A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

A bird propelled rotating hummingbird feeder. A pivot housing includes a central axis and a central hole. A plurality of fins is configured as dual opposing fin sets, where each fin is angled at an oblique angle with respect to a plane passing perpendicularly through the central axis and each fin set comprises at least three angled fins attached to the pivot housing so as to be symmetrically located opposite the other dual opposing fin set with the pivot housing centered between the dual opposing fin sets. A feeder jar housing integrated into each of the dual opposing fin sets central fin. A pivot cable is inserted through the central hole and a bearing element it is attached to a bottom end of the pivot cable within the pivot housing. A hanger is attached to a top end of the pivot cable.

An Oriole bird feeder having a nectar reservoir with a base and a tapered port, and preferably a tapered port/perch assembly, is provided. The bird feeder allows Orioles and other similarly sized members of the Icterid family of birds to land on the perch and access the nectar in the reservoir base while, due to the diminishing taper of the opening in the tapered port, simultaneously preventing average sized Italian, Carniolan and Caucasian honey bees from entering the reservoir base through the port to obtain the nectar where they subsequently become trapped and perish.

A freeze-resistant watering device has a nipple or ball valve, a heat pipe, a sleeve in tight thermal contact with the nipple, a water-tight connection to a liquid containing container or supply pipe, and an outer shield enclosing an insulating space or insulation material. This device thermally couples a watering nipple or ball valve to a container or supply pipe via a thermal conduction path including bends so that the nipple or ball valve maintains at a temperature that is near the temperature of the liquid in the container or supply pipe. Further, the use of one or more freeze-resistant watering devices with a thermally insulated container in a watering unit with an insulated container or supply pipe provides drinking water to animals, and in particular, birds in sub-freezing and in hot weather.

Implementations described and claimed herein provide apparatuses and methods for facilitating filling and cleaning of bird feeders that are aesthetically pleasing and adaptable for attracting different types of birds. In one implementation, a bird feeder includes a port having a surface extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end has a connecting portion configured to connect to a reservoir. The surface has one or more openings defined therein. A small seed converter is insertable into the port, and the small seed converter includes a plurality of teeth extending from an edge. The plurality of teeth are configured to narrow the one or more openings for dispensing small sized seed.

A watering system for use in an animal house having at least one watering pipe and a plurality of nipple drinkers spaced along the watering pipe. The watering pipe has a pipe body that encloses a flow channel through which pressurized water is carried to each of the plurality of nipple drinkers. The pipe body has a flat nipple-facing surface. Each of the plurality of nipple drinkers has a nipple body having a pipe-facing surface that is brought adjacent the nipple-facing surface of the pipe body such that a nipple inlet extends into the flow channel, and wherein the nipple body has a fastener mechanism that detachably holds the nipple drinker against the nipple-facing surface such that each nipple drinker is detachably attached to the watering pipe 108 along the nipple-facing surface.

A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin, the nectar container including a top opening closed by a cap. The cap has a sealing member configured to have an interference press fit with the top opening of the nectar container. The sealing member includes at least one void to allow air passage so that liquid can flow from the nectar container into the feeding basin when the feeder is in use.

A top-fill hummingbird feeder is provided having a nectar container with a liquid flow opening at a lower end and a removable cap at an upper end, a feeding basin positioned below the nectar container, and a sealing mechanism associated with the liquid flow opening and the feeding basin. The sealing mechanism includes a bottle seal assembly configured for removable coupling with a base of the feeding basin, and a float valve captured by said bottle seal assembly to prevent rotation thereof while allowing the float valve to move upwardly and downwardly with changing nectar levels in the feeding basin. The float valve includes a float having a frame with a buoyant member mounted thereon, the buoyant member being made of a closed-cell foam.

A hummingbird feeder is provided that has a nectar container with a lower end liquid flow opening, a nectar basin positioned below the nectar container and removably coupled thereto, and a recessed elastomeric sealing member. The nectar basin includes an upper part and a lower part that are separable from one another and configured to be engaged along adjacent surfaces thereof. The recessed elastomeric sealing member is held against a retaining structure and is positioned to be engaged between the upper and lower parts of the nectar basin to create a liquid tight seal of the nectar basin when the feeder components are assembled.

A hummingbird feeder is provided that includes a nectar container removably coupled to a feeding basin having at least one feed port therein and a flower assembly fitted within the feed port. The flower assembly includes a flower body and a mounting member fitted in the center of the flower body, the mounting member having an elongated tapered passageway through which hummingbirds can access nectar in the feeding basin. The mounting member also has a semi-conical exterior geometry that facilitates mounting of the flower assembly within the feed port.