A game feeder includes a housing having a plurality of support legs that elevated it above an underlying surface. Superimposed on the housing is a pivotal lid that selectively exposes a battery-powered winch mounted on the upper surface of the cap. Depending from the lower end of the housing is a feed hopper having an automated dispenser that projects feed to the surrounding area at desired times and for a desired duration. Using the winch, a hunter can easily reload the hopper by lowering it to ground level.

An automated animal feeding assembly includes a housing that may be positioned to be accessible to an animal. A turret is rotatably coupled to the housing. A plurality of tubes is provided and each of the tubes is positioned within the turret. Each of the tubes may contain animal food. A rotation unit is positioned within the housing. The rotation unit engages the turret such that the rotation unit selectively rotates the turret. A dispensing unit is positioned within the housing. The dispensing unit selectively urges the animal food outwardly from the tubes into the third well. Thus, the animal may consume the animal food. A control is coupled to the housing and the control may be manipulated. The control is electrically coupled to rotation unit and the dispensing unit. Thus, the control controls operational parameters of each of the rotation unit and the dispensing unit.

An animal interaction device is provided that includes a food access component which allows and disallows access to at least a portion of the food. In various embodiments, the allowing and disallowing of access to at least a portion of the food is dependent upon the animal's condition. A method is also provided such that the device above is provided to an animal, one or more indicators are optionally activated, the animal's first condition is sensed via one or more sensors, and based upon the animal's condition, the previously protected food is made accessible, and subsequently the protected food is made available again based upon the animal's second condition. A system is also provided for automatically interacting with an animal including at least one animal interaction device each of which comprises an initial interaction algorithm to automatically interact with the animal. Other aspects of the invention are provided.

A system for remote care of an animal includes a smart bowl that includes an open-faced container for holding a substance, a microprocessor, and a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of a proximity tag attached to an animal.

Provided herein are mechanisms and methods for the automated distribution of active ingredients (whether oral or contact based) to wild and domestic animal populations as well as a method for monitoring animal activity and estimating consumption and/or application of such ingredients within the population through the utilization of the mechanisms themselves. The inventive device pertains to a manner of delivering either an active oral ingredient or active contact ingredient within a bait pellet or like substrate for ingestion or external contact and/or coating of a target population. The device allows for controlled access of such a bait pellet (or like substrate) for such a target population coupled with the ability to retain freshness thereof for multiple timed access events without the need for human involvement. A properly sized, configured, and automated delivery device is thus provided to meet these needs. Delivery components are also encompassed herein.

The present invention relates to a control unit (116) for a game or fish feeder (100). The control unit (116) is mounted on the feeder (100) and comprises: means (130) for controlling the powering of a drive unit (110) of said feeder (100) for controlled output of feed from the feeder (100); a wireless transmitter (138) arranged to communicate over a wireless network (146) with a remote unit (140); a sensor (132; 134) for measuring a parameter of the feeder (100); and means (124) for determining whether a measured parameter value provided by said sensor (132; 134) fulfills a predetermined condition in order to detect an action-requiring state of the feeder (100). In response to a detected action-requiring state, the wireless transmitter (138) is triggered to send a notification to said remote unit (140).

A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the location in which herbivore fowl populations congregate by altering the behaviour of the fowl through the combination of providing a strong disincentive to populate areas where the presence of the fowl is not desired and a strong incentive to populate a proximate area where the presence of fowl can be tolerated. For herbivore waterfowl, and in particular Canada geese, the adjacent area also provides the waterfowl with a means of egress to water as an escape from predators and other perceived threats. The method uses a deterrent in the form of adulterated feed to dissuade the herbivore fowl from congregating in areas in which their presence is not desired and the use of an attractant in the form of non-adulterated feed to encourage the herbivore fowl to congregate in a proximate area in which their presence can be tolerated.

A feed dispensing assembly that is capable of dispensing feed material (finely ground grain, powered grain, powdered peanut waste, or rice bran) and otherwise difficult to feed material in a reliable manner, where the feeder can be adjusted and adapted to dispense a wide variety of feed material, and where the feeder is physically operated by rotation of a container (such as enclosed cylinder) to dispense feed material. The container is physically rotated by various means, and openings in the walls of the container allow feed to exit to the target feeding surface at the feed location. The feed dispensing assembly can be incorporated into an existing feed trough or can be assembled as a standalone unit.

Disclosed is a drop feed line device for automatically controlling flow of feed through a feed drop. The drop feed line device includes a drop body with an electrical box and a feed tube, as well as two planar circuit boards within respective sleeves removably positioned on opposite sides of the feed tube and in electrical communication with electronic components within the electrical box. In certain embodiments, the planar circuit boards include infrared emitters and receivers to electrically communicate across an interior channel of the feed tube. The electronic components are configured to transmit a signal to cease operation of an auger motor filling a drop feed line upon determining that all of the emitters cease to communicate with all of the receivers. The drop feed line device is cost effective and serviceable through the use of easily removable planar circuit boards, among other features and components.

A dispenser for dispensing animal feed. An inlet tube in an upper region receives feed from a container and a dispensing tube intersecting the inlet tube defines an opening along a lower surface through which the feed can pass. A feed drive assembly, comprising radial vanes, rotates within the dispensing tube. Regions between vanes receive and hold feed from the inlet tube. Two switches activate a motor when either is closed, and the motor turns the feed drive assembly. A pivotable arm extends downwardly from the dispenser such that a force applied thereto (by an animal wandering below the dispenser) closes one of the switches to supply power to the motor or to a controller controlling operation of the motor. Rotation of the motor and thereby rotation of the feed drive assembly moves a region holding feed into alignment with the opening causing feed to be dispensed through the opening.