# US 10,477,840 B2 · Poultry keeping facility with additional perching rods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,477,840 B2 - Document ID: US10477840B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/096,327 - Filed: 2016-04-12 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-13 - Assignees: Big Dutchman International GmbH - Applicants: Big Dutchman International GmbH - Inventors: Volker Auffarth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477840B2 ## CPC - A01K 31/14: Nest-boxes {, e.g. for singing birds or the like} - A01K 31/04: Dropping-boards; Devices for removing excrement - A01K 31/12: Perches {for poultry or birds, e.g. roosts} - A01K 31/22: Poultry runs {; Poultry houses, including auxiliary features, e.g. feeding, watering, demanuring (air-conditioning, e.g. ventilation, of animal housings A01K1/0047)} - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract The invention relates to a poultry keeping facility comprising at least one nest box, a first colony surface having a perforated first floor area and a second colony surface having a second floor area for spreading litter. According to the invention, a perch facility having at least one perching rod is arranged at a height above the first or second floor area. The perching rod is movable relative to the first or second floor area, wherein the perching rod is movable from a first position to a second position in which the perch facility covers a smaller area of the first or second floor area than in the first position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A poultry keeping facility comprising: at least one nest box; a first colony surface having a perforated first floor area; a second colony surface having a second floor area for spreading litter; an actuator coupled to the perch facility; and a control unit in signal communication with the actuator; wherein said poultry keeping facility has at least one perching rod arranged at a height above the first or second floor area, said perching rod being movable relative to the first or second floor area by the actuator from a first position to a second position in which the perch facility covers a smaller area of the first or second floor area than in the first position and does not preclude access to the nest box; and wherein the control unit is configured to move the perching rod the second position to the first position in the evening and from the first position to the second position in the morning. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the at least one perching rod is arranged on a first frame strut which is pivotably mounted relative a second frame strut. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 2, wherein the second frame strut is pivotably attached to the first frame strut by a first pivot bearing which connects the first frame strut directly to the second frame strut, and wherein the poultry keeping facility further comprises a connecting member connected at a first end to the first frame strut and at a second end to the second frame strut. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member comprises an articulated arm pivotably attached to the first and the second frame strut. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 3, wherein the at least one perching rod is fixed to the connecting member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the perching rod in the mounted position is movable by gravity actuation from the second to the first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 6, wherein the poultry keeping facility has a securing strut which locks the perching rod in the first position against any further gravity-actuated movement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is coupled to the perch facility by means of a slack traction member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes an electric motor whose output shaft drives a belt roller, onto and off of which a belt fixed to the perch facility can be wound. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the movement from the first into the second position within a period that is not shorter than two seconds. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the movement from the first into the second position within a period that is not shorter than five seconds. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein a first set of struts and a second set of struts is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the perching rods and spaced apart from the first set of struts, and which performs a movement of the perching rods identical to that of the first set of struts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein a second frame strut has a first pivot mounting at a first end pivotably mounted thereby to a wall section demarcating the colony surface, the first frame strut is pivotably connected at a first end to the second frame strut, and a second end of the first frame strut is moveable from a lowered position, in which the second end lies on the first or on the second floor area, to a raised position in which the second end is located above and at a distance from the first or second floor area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 13, wherein the first frame strut in the raised position stands at a predetermined angular position relative to the second frame strut due to a stop member between the first and the second frame strut and in the lowered position stands in a different angular position relative to the second frame strut. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the perch facility is fixed to a lateral boundary above a base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The poultry keeping facility according to claim 1, wherein the perch facility is directly or indirectly fixed to an aviary ceiling. ### Claim 17 A perch facility for a poultry keeping facility, comprising: a perching rod; a first frame strut to which the perching rod is attached, wherein the first frame strut is pivotably mounted to a second frame strut, and the perching rod is movable from a first position to a second position in which the perch facility covers a smaller surface area in the horizontal direction than in the first position; an actuator coupled to the perch facility; and a control unit in signal communication with the actuator and configured to move the perching rod within a period that is not shorter than two seconds from the second position to the first position in the evening and from the first position to the second position in the morning. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The perch facility according to claim 17, wherein the second frame strut is pivotably attached to the first frame strut by a first pivot bearing which connects the first frame strut directly to the second frame strut, and wherein the poultry keeping facility further comprises a connecting member connected at a first end to the first frame strut and at a second end to the second frame strut, and wherein the connecting member comprises an articulated arm pivotably attached to the first and the second frame strut. ### Claim 19 A poultry keeping facility comprising: at least one nest box; a first colony surface having a perforated first floor area; a second colony surface having a second floor area for spreading litter; an actuator coupled to the perch facility; and a control unit in signal communication with the actuator; wherein said poultry keeping facility has at least one perching rod arranged at a height above the first or second floor area, said perching rod being movable relative to the first or second floor area by the actuator from a first position to a second position in which the perch facility covers a smaller area of the first or second floor area than in the first position; and wherein the control unit is configured to move the perching rod within a period that is not shorter than two seconds from the second position to the first position in the evening and from the first position to the second position in the morning.