Aviary cage with manure removal system and method for constructing the same
AssigneeRose Acre Farms, Inc.
InventorsMarcus D. Rust, David S. Hurd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aviary is provided including an aviary cage having a first side, a second side, and a nesting area. The nesting area is positioned between the first side and the second side. A belt extends beneath the nesting area. A grate having a first end and a second end is positioned over the belt. The first end of the grate extends to the first side of the aviary cage, and the second end of the grate extends to the second side of the aviary cage. A first egg conveyor is positioned adjacent the first end of the grate. A second egg conveyor is positioned adjacent the second end of the grate.
Claims19
A cage-free aviary comprising:
- a cage-free aviary module having a first side, a second side, and a nesting area, said nesting area positioned between the first side and the second side;
- a belt extending beneath the nesting area;
- a grate having a first end and a second end, said grate being positioned within the nesting area and over the belt, the first end of the grate extending to the first side of the cage-free aviary module and the second end of the grate extending to the second side of the cage-free aviary module;
- a first egg conveyor positioned adjacent the first end of the grate;
- a second egg conveyor positioned adjacent the second end of the grate;
- and
- a scratching platform extending from the cage-free aviary module adjacent to the grate;
- wherein the scratching platform is sloped toward the grate to facilitate movement of a deposit on the scratching platform to the grate.
A cage-free aviary comprising:
- a cage-free aviary module having a first side, a second side, and a nesting area, said nesting area positioned between the first side and the second side;
- a belt extending beneath the nesting area;
- a grate having a first end and a second end, said grate being positioned within the nesting area and over the belt, the first end of the grate extending to the first side of the cage-free aviary module and the second end of the grate extending to the second side of the cage-free aviary module;
- a first egg conveyor positioned adjacent the first end of the grate;
- a second egg conveyor positioned adjacent the second end of the grate;
- wherein a first portion of the grate is angled downward toward the first egg conveyor, and a second portion of the grate is angled downward toward the second egg conveyor;
- and
- a scratching platform extending from the cage-free aviary module adjacent to the grate, the scratching platform being sloped toward the grate to facilitate movement of an egg on the scratching platform to the grate.
A method of forming a cage-free aviary including a cage-free aviary module having a first side and a second side, the method comprising:
- positioning a nesting area between the first side and the second side;
- extending a belt below the nesting area;
- positioning a grate having a first end and a second end within the nesting area and over the belt;
- positioning the grate such that the first end of the grate extends to the first side of the cage-free aviary module and such that the second end of the grate extends to the second side of the cage-free aviary module;
- positioning a first egg conveyor adjacent the first end of the grate;
- positioning a second egg conveyor adjacent the second end of the grate;
- extending a scratching platform from the cage-free aviary module adjacent to the grate;
- and
- sloping the scratching platform toward the grate to facilitate movement of a deposit on the scratching platform to the grate.
A cage-free aviary comprising:
- an aviary floor;
- a cage-free aviary module positioned on the aviary floor and having a first side, a second side, and a nesting area, said nesting area positioned between the first side and the second side;
- a belt extending beneath the nesting area;
- a grate having a first end and a second end, said grate being positioned within the nesting area and over the belt, the first end of the grate extending to the first side of the cage-free aviary module and the second end of the grate extending to the second side of the cage-free aviary module;
- a first egg conveyor positioned adjacent the first end of the grate;
- a second egg conveyor positioned adjacent the second end of the grate;
- and
- a scratching platform vertically spaced apart from the aviary floor and extending from the cage-free aviary module adjacent to the grate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.