An animal drinker with a drip cup where the cup bodies are provided on the inside at least in part with a structuring. The structuring is created as a result of a coating of the inside surface of the cup body, as a result of which said inside surface is protected from damage caused by the sharp beaks of the animals. In addition, it is designed to provide the structuring with a roughened surface which serves as an abrasive material on which the animals are able to grind down their beaks. Animal drinkers have drip cups produced from plastics material. In the case of animal drinkers for poultry, the plastics material of the cup body is exposed to damage caused by the beaks of the poultry. Over and above this, poultry have to take care of their beaks regularly by grinding down their beaks.

A feeder for feeding poultry and the like, the feeder comprising: a base including a pan configured to receive and retain feed; a storage hopper positioned above the base during use for receiving and storing feed, said hopper being operable to dispense feed into the pan under the effect of gravity; the base further including a housing for at least enclosing the pan, the housing including an opening positioned in between the pan and the hopper during use for allowing poultry and the like to access an internal space enclosed by the housing for consuming the feed retained in the pan.

A cage-mounted fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a water source, such as a fluid bag or an automatic water system, 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 water source to facilitate the provision of fluid to animals housed in the cages. The cage-mounted fluid delivery valve assembly may further comprise a valve body and end cap, which may be joined together, that define a fluid channel. The cage-mounted 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 valve includes a housing, a first ball, a second ball, and a deflector plate. The housing defines an inner chamber and has an inlet and an outlet providing fluid communication into the inner chamber. A longitudinal axis extends between the inlet and outlet. The first ball is disposed in the inner chamber between the inlet and outlet and rests on a seat extending into the inner chamber. The second ball is disposed in the inner chamber between the first ball and outlet and rests on the first ball. The deflector plate is disposed in the inner chamber and positioned between the inlet and first ball. The first ball, second ball, and deflector plate are aligned so that their centers lie on the longitudinal axis. The deflector plate is configured to deflect gas entering through the inlet to prevent the gas from driving the first and second balls upward.

A valve includes a housing, a first ball, a second ball, and a deflector plate. The housing defines an inner chamber and has an inlet and an outlet providing fluid communication into the inner chamber. A longitudinal axis extends between the inlet and outlet. The first ball is disposed in the inner chamber between the inlet and outlet and rests on a seat extending into the inner chamber. The second ball is disposed in the inner chamber between the first ball and outlet and rests on the first ball. The deflector plate is disposed in the inner chamber and positioned between the inlet and first ball. The first ball, second ball, and deflector plate are aligned so that their centers lie on the longitudinal axis. The deflector plate is configured to deflect gas entering through the inlet to prevent the gas from driving the first and second balls upward.

A breather cap assembly is 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.

A breather cap assembly is 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 present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring in real time the nutriment intake (feed and/or water) of farm animals, including but not limited to poultry, turkeys, pigs and cows, based on the measurement and identification of the nutriment uptake sounds and/or the working of the nutriment supply system, while the presence and eating position of the animals is monitored by using real-time image analysis.

The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring in real time the nutriment intake (feed and/or water) of farm animals, including but not limited to poultry, turkeys, pigs and cows, based on the measurement and identification of the nutriment uptake sounds and/or the working of the nutriment supply system, while the presence and eating position of the animals is monitored by using real-time image analysis.

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.