A hinged water valve (26) for use in a watering (38, 46) system (50) of a poultry house includes rigid sight tubes (20) connected with hinged water valves (26). Each hinged valve (26) includes a valve body (28) with a valve cap (30) hinged to the valve body (28) with at least one hinge pin. The valve (26) permits flow of water into the sight tube (20) when the sight tube (10) is in its upright operational condition but prohibits flow of water toward the sight tube (20) when the sight tube (20) is pivoted to a substantially horizontal cleaning condition. An internal plunger (32) interacts with an internal seat (36) of the valve body (28) in a sealing manner. A biasing spring (40) urges the plunger (32) into contact with the internal seat (36) of the valve body (28) but with the valve cap (30) in the upright condition, the stem (50) forces the plunger (32) away from the internal seat (36) opening a flow passage (41).

A breather cap assembly configured to be connected to a stand-tube used in a watering system. When the watering system is in normal operation, the breather cap assembly is configured to allow for air to flow between the outside the assembly and the stand-tube. The breather cap assembly also provides for structure which acts as a baffle to minimize the introduction of foreign material from outside the breather cap assembly into the stand-tube. When the watering system is in flushing operation, the breather cap assembly is configured to seal off the stand-tube in order to minimize the possibility of water leaving the stand-tube. The breather cap assembly further also provides for structure which acts as a baffle to collect and retain a majority of any water that does leave the stand-tube during a flushing operation.

The bird feeder provides a bird feeder with an improved rain shield that is removably supported above the reservoir of the feeder. A plug is secured to the hanger rod to support a rain shield above the base of a feeder while also allowing a user to pass the cover over the plug to access the reservoir in the base for access to the interior of the feeder, such as for adding more feed to the feeder and for cleaning.

An improved, self-balancing water distribution system uses siphon characteristics to maintain negative pressure within the water system and to enable distribution of water to one or more distribution points, such as drinker lines with drinker nipples, at a controlled pressure, for consumption by poultry. The system includes water conduit connected to and configured to distribute water from a water supply reservoir to the one or more distribution points. The water level of the water supply reservoir is used to control the water pressure within the system. A vacuum apparatus is connected to the water conduit to remove entrapped air within the system to help maintain negative pressure within the conduit and throughout the system.

A fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from an automatic water source to animals housed in cages in high density caging systems may comprise a fluid delivery valve assembly, wherein the fluid delivery valve assembly is adapted to be coupled to the automatic water source to facilitate the provision of fluid to animals housed in the cages. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a valve body and end cap, which may be joined together, that define a fluid channel. The fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise sealing elements, a spring element, and an interior stem disposed at least in part in the fluid channel to open and close the fluid channel.

A drinker assembly includes an inlet portion configured to interface with a fluid supply, a drinker tip removably coupled to the inlet portion, the inlet portion and the drinker tip defining a fluid-flow path within an interior of the inlet portion and the drinker tip, an interior surface of the drinker tip defining a sealing surface, a top pin disposed within the fluid-flow path of the inlet portion and drinker tip and at least partially extending into the inlet portion, a bottom pin disposed within the fluid-flow path of the inlet portion and drinker tip and at least partially extending through and out of the drinker tip and a sealing ball disposed between the top pin and the bottom pin and configured to directly abut against the sealing surface of the drinker tip for create a fluid-tight seal.

A hyper-realistic hummingbird feeder with unique features replicating the natural characteristics of Passiflora vitifolia (red passionflower), such as artificial flowers and leaves that mimic Passiflora vitifolia in color and flexibility that are attached to and around the feeding ports, and the lack of a stable perch that allows hummingbirds to hover while feeding at flowers, which is consistent with natural hummingbird feeding behaviors. Additional features include a removable lid to which the artificial flowers and leaves are attached to, a clear nectar basin that can be easily refilled by the user(s), an insect moat to prevent nectar contamination, and a visible metal hook to hang the feeder from for easy access for both the birds and user(s).

A water feeder filter water feeder includes a water storage tank and a water drinking portion. The filter supplies and returns water from the water storage tank to the water drinking portion. The filter is detachably provided between the water storage tank and the water drinking portion and passes the water from an upper surface side to a lower surface side of the filter. The filter includes a filter tray with a bottom wall having a water passing aperture and an outer peripheral wall. An internal filter medium is in the filter tray. A top covering filter medium covers an upper end opening of the filter tray. A partition wall of the filter tray is formed with a lower side is positioned inner than an upper side when viewed from each chamber. The outer peripheral wall is formed with a lower side is positioned inner than an upper side.

An illuminated assembly, and methods of making and using such an illuminated assembly, whereby the illuminated assembly includes a panel and at least one sheet coupled to the panel, the sheet capable of overlaying engagement with the panel. The sheet can include a sheet front surface opposite a sheet back surface, and at least one light transmission portion disposed therein, whereby the light transmission portion can communicate between the sheet front and back surfaces. Further, the illuminated assembly can include a light source operatively coupled to the panel, whereby in an activated condition, the light source can provide light to the panel. Following, the light can be transmitted from the panel through the light transmission portion of the sheet such that the light can be viewable by a viewer of the sheet front surface.

Provided herein are bird feeders configured to be positioned on an exterior window sill ledge and readily observed and maintained from the comfort of a home. The bird feeders provided herein can in some embodiments comprise a basin or other container (and optional cover) for holding and/or providing bird seed and/or feed and a compression pad configured to be compressed between a closed window and the window sill to thereby secure the feeder in place on the exterior window sill ledge. In some embodiments adjustable support members can be provided to permit the feeder to be leveled or placed in a substantially level position on an exterior window sill ledge. To refill and/or maintain the feeder a user can access the feeder simply by opening the window from the inside of the home or dwelling.