The present subject matter provides: a liftable nest, configured to serve as a preferable place for birds to lay their eggs in, and facilitate harvest of the eggs, either automatically or manually; a birds feeding device, allowing feeding a flock of birds at the same time, and also allowing feeding different groups of birds, for example, males and females, in separate times, as well as with different types of food; and a poultry farming system configured to facilitate egg laying by birds and control feeding of birds. Embodiments of the liftable nest, the birds feeding device and the poultry farming system are disclosed herein.

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.

Animal sustenance-dispensing stations described herein may be capable of supplying food or water to animals, of controlling electrical loads that prevent liquid sustenance freeze-up or overheating and other loads that help sanitize the sustenance, that illuminate the station, or that generate sounds; of acquiring and processing data from a variety of sensors both internal and external to the station, and of reporting both raw and processed data. They may also be capable of wirelessly communicating with other stations, or with non-station devices over wireless communication networks to facilitate reporting of sensor and other data, and to support configuration of station controller operational and reporting behavior. Station configurations may facilitate monitoring of video and audio activity of nearby animals, tagged animals visiting the station, weather conditions in the station's vicinity, station food or water supply levels, and other parameters according to the sensors of a given embodiment.

Drip cups used in animal drinkers for beaked animals feature a cup body made of plastic material for accommodating a supply of water. The cup body has a bottom surrounded by an edging. Experience has shown that beaked animals cause damage to the plastics material of cup body with their beaks. Such damage by pecking can even cause the bottom, and thus the drip cup itself, to leak water. The invention proposes to position a graduated metal insert centered in the inside bottom of the cup body. The insert thereby reinforces the bottom of the cup body such that beaked animals are no longer capable of damaging the drip cup.

Drip cups used in animal drinkers for beaked animals feature a cup body made of plastic material for accommodating a supply of water. The cup body has a bottom surrounded by an edging. Experience has shown that beaked animals cause damage to the plastics material of cup body with their beaks. Such damage by pecking can even cause the bottom, and thus the drip cup itself, to leak water. The invention proposes to position a graduated metal insert centered in the inside bottom of the cup body. The insert thereby reinforces the bottom of the cup body such that beaked animals are no longer capable of damaging the drip cup.

A portable animal waterer includes a bulbous manifold formed from a manifold wall, a connector formed from an extension of the bulbous manifold, a first valve hole on the bulbous manifold in the manifold wall and a second valve hole on the bulbous manifold in the manifold wall, substantially opposite to the first valve hole. The first valve hole is configured to receive a first valve and the second valve hole is configured to receive a second valve.

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.

In an apparatus for raising chickens from hatchlings including a barn having a floor and walls there is provided a plurality of rows of feed stations arranged at spaced positions across the floor each with a feed supply line connected along the row for dispensing feed to each of the feed stations and a plurality of rows of water supply stations each with a water supply line connected along the row for dispensing water to each of the water supply stations where rows of stations are connected to a lift system for raising the stations from the floor. A first strip of biodegradable paper sheet is unrolled along the floor of the barn underneath the row of feed stations and a second strip of biodegradable paper sheet unrolled along the floor of the barn underneath the row of water supply stations where the biodegradable paper is colored with a color selected to be attractive to hatchlings, typically red.

A top-fill hummingbird feeder includes a liquid container with a liquid opening at a lower end. A feeding basin is positioned below the liquid container for containing nectar accessed by birds. A sealing mechanism includes a valve responsive to a nectar level in the feeding basin for opening and closing the liquid opening.

A top-fill hummingbird feeder includes a liquid container with a liquid opening at a lower end. A feeding basin is positioned below the liquid container for containing nectar accessed by birds. A sealing mechanism includes a valve responsive to a nectar level in the feeding basin for opening and closing the liquid opening.