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 water container for use by poultry has a container with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a water hose connected to the inlet opening, and a nozzle affixed to the inlet opening. The inlet opening is positioned below the outlet opening. The water hose is adapted to pass fresh water into an interior of the container. The outlet opening is adapted to allow water from the interior of the container to be released outwardly of the container. The nozzle is positioned adjacent to the bottom of the container and adapted to direct an unobstructed pressurized flow of water toward the bottom of the container so as to pressure wash, clean and remove debris from the interior of the container. A nipple is affixed to the container. The nipple is adapted to allow poultry to access water from the interior of the container.

An automatic drinking trough (10) for breeding birds, comprising valve means (30) arranged along a water supply channel (12) and at least one bowl (20) for collecting the water delivered through the valve means, is described. The drinking trough further comprises a drive assembly (40) having a lever member (41) and a tubular actuator (50) integral with the lever member, suspended at the center of the bowl (20). A movable piston (51) is placed between the valve means (30) and the lever member (41) in the drive assembly (40) for intercepting or delivering the flow of water depending on the inclination taken by the lever member (41).

A plastic member for a feeding system for poultry production is provided. The plastic member includes an outer surface and may be configured for attracting pullets to a specific area. The plastic member may be adapted for application in a feeding system and/or a drinking system. The plastic member may include shining particles configured with reflective characteristic of reflecting incident light in one or more directions. Also provided is a use of the plastic member in nutrition systems and elements herefore.

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 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 flexible, non-metal, hose-type manifold line having a plurality of circular apertures and a plurality of injection molded plastic saddle fittings each configured to fit into an aperture. Each cage location may comprise two apertures opposite one other and two saddle fittings fit thereto. The saddle fittings may further comprise a U-shaped portion configured to fit around the flexible manifold line, an inward-facing protrusion sized and configured to penetrate and seal to an aperture, and one or more ribs to seal the aperture and/or grip the flexible manifold.

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 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 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.

An animal watering valve preferably includes a valve body, a valve stem, a retention plug, a stem o-ring and a compression spring. A valve bore is formed in the one end of the valve body to receive the valve stem. A plug bore is formed in the opposing end of the valve body. The valve stem preferably includes a sealing base, an actuation end, a plug end and a spring flange. An o-ring groove is formed in the sealing base to receive the stem o-ring. The retention plug preferably includes a threaded portion, a rotation flange and a stem portion. A stem bore is formed through the retention plug. The stem bore is sized to loosely receive the plug end of the valve stem. The plug end is inserted into the compression spring. The retention plug is threaded into the plug bore to retain the valve stem.