The present invention relates to a hatcher basket for holding newly hatched birds in an incubator. The basket has: —a pair of side walls on horizontally opposite sides having a plurality of horizontally-extending openings through them; —a horizontally-extending trough which is attached to the exterior of each side wall and which can contain feed for the newly hatched birds; —the bottom of each opening in each side wall being located at the same distance above the bottom of the side wall; —the top of each trough being located at this same distance above the bottom of its side wall; and —the size of each opening being significantly larger than the head of the newly hatched birds but significantly smaller than the thorax of the newly hatched birds.

The present invention relates to a hatcher basket for holding newly hatched birds in an incubator. The basket has: —a pair of side walls on horizontally opposite sides having a plurality of horizontally-extending openings through them; —a horizontally-extending trough which is attached to the exterior of each side wall and which can contain feed for the newly hatched birds; —the bottom of each opening in each side wall being located at the same distance above the bottom of the side wall; —the top of each trough being located at this same distance above the bottom of its side wall; and —the size of each opening being significantly larger than the head of the newly hatched birds but significantly smaller than the thorax of the newly hatched birds.

In one or more arrangements, a heating system is provided having one or more heating panels positioned in a housing. The housing has a hollow interior with an open lower end. A first panel is positioned in the open lower end of the housing. The first heating panel includes a heating layer. The heating layer includes a conductive microfilm. A first electrical contact is connected to the conductive microfilm. A second electrical contact is connected to the conductive microfilm. In one or more arrangements, the conductive microfilm includes at least one layer of graphene or nanofiber carbon material. Application of a voltage difference between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact causes current to flow through the conductive microfilm, thereby generating heat. In one or more arrangements, current which flows through the conductive microfilm causes the conductive microfilm to emit infrared radiation.

The invention provides for a brooder having a cylindrical emitter and a burner head. The cylindrical emitter is formed from a flat piece of stainless steel which is manipulated in order to secure one end thereof to another end thereof, thereby allowing for reduced costs in packaging and shipping of the brooder and for easy assembly of the emitter after shipping. The burner head is formed of top and bottom plates which are secured together by port spacers of the bottom plate having tabs which extend through apertures of the top plate, and which are folded downwardly toward the top plate.

The invention provides for a brooder having a cylindrical emitter and a burner head. The cylindrical emitter is formed from a flat piece of stainless steel which is manipulated in order to secure one end thereof to another end thereof, thereby allowing for reduced costs in packaging and shipping of the brooder and for easy assembly of the emitter after shipping. The burner head is formed of top and bottom plates which are secured together by port spacers of the bottom plate having tabs which extend through apertures of the top plate, and which are folded downwardly toward the top plate.

A low profile brooder is provided, comprising a venturi, a burner base, a burner cap, and a baffle. The burner base and the burner cap reside adjacent to each other, with the burner cap disposed above the burner base and with a distribution chamber between them. A central axis is defined. A venturi resides below the burner base and is in fluid communication with the distribution chamber at the central axis. The venturi defines a fuel flow path between its upstream and downstream ends. The fuel flow path resides at least partially at one or more of an acute angle, a perpendicular angle, and an obtuse angle to the central axis. A baffle resides in the distribution chamber between the central axis and the periphery.

A low profile brooder is provided, comprising a venturi, a burner base, a burner cap, and a baffle. The burner base and the burner cap reside adjacent to each other, with the burner cap disposed above the burner base and with a distribution chamber between them. A central axis is defined. A venturi resides below the burner base and is in fluid communication with the distribution chamber at the central axis. The venturi defines a fuel flow path between its upstream and downstream ends. The fuel flow path resides at least partially at one or more of an acute angle, a perpendicular angle, and an obtuse angle to the central axis. A baffle resides in the distribution chamber between the central axis and the periphery.

A low profile brooder is provided, comprising a venturi, a burner base, a burner cap, and a baffle. The burner base and the burner cap reside adjacent to each other, with the burner cap disposed above the burner base and with a distribution chamber between them. A central axis is defined. A venturi resides below the burner base and is in fluid communication with the distribution chamber at the central axis. The venturi defines a fuel flow path between its upstream and downstream ends. The fuel flow path resides at least partially at one or more of an acute angle, a perpendicular angle, and an obtuse angle to the central axis. A baffle resides in the distribution chamber between the central axis and the periphery.

A low profile brooder is provided, comprising a venturi, a burner base, a burner cap, and a baffle. The burner base and the burner cap reside adjacent to each other, with the burner cap disposed above the burner base and with a distribution chamber between them. A central axis is defined. A venturi resides below the burner base and is in fluid communication with the distribution chamber at the central axis. The venturi defines a fuel flow path between its upstream and downstream ends. The fuel flow path resides at least partially at one or more of an acute angle, a perpendicular angle, and an obtuse angle to the central axis. A baffle resides in the distribution chamber between the central axis and the periphery.

A low profile brooder is provided, comprising a venturi, a burner base, a burner cap, and a baffle. The burner base and the burner cap reside adjacent to each other, with the burner cap disposed above the burner base and with a distribution chamber between them. A central axis is defined. A venturi resides below the burner base and is in fluid communication with the distribution chamber at the central axis. The venturi defines a fuel flow path between its upstream and downstream ends. The fuel flow path resides at least partially at one or more of an acute angle, a perpendicular angle, and an obtuse angle to the central axis. A baffle resides in the distribution chamber between the central axis and the periphery.