WO2008038268A2

WO2008038268A2 - Method of feeding poultry and poultry feeders particularly useful in such method

Info

Publication number: WO2008038268A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/001169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Achiezer Israeli; Guy Eshel; Ziv Shindler
Original assignee: Plasson Ltd
Current assignee: Plasson Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-26
Filing date: 2007-09-23
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-26
Also published as: WO2008038268A3; IL178323A0; WO2008038268A9

Abstract

A method and poultry feeder for feeding poultry as the poultry matures, the poultry feeder comprising a feeder conduit mountable in suspension to a feed delivery tube with the upper end in communication with the feed delivery tube for receiving feed therefrom, and the lower end open to permit gravity-flow of feed therethrough, a feed pan underlying the feeder conduit and formed with at least one opening for feeding feed therethrough, and a flow-control device actuatable to an open condition to permit gravity-flow of feed through the opening, or to a closed position to block gravity-flow of feed through the opening, and thereby to cause the feed from the feeder conduit to be retained in the feed pan. The poultry feeder is suspended over an underlying surface accessible to the poultry, such that while the poultry is very young, the flow-control device to its open condition, to allow the feed to flow through the opening in the feed pan onto the underlying surface for convenient access to the very young poultry, and as the poultry matures, moving the poultry feeder into engagement with the ground, or raising it above the ground and actuating the flow-control device to its closed condition, to thereby cause the feed to be retained in the feed pan for convenient access to the maturing poultry.

Description

METHOD OF FEEDING POULTRY AND POULTRY FEEDERS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN SUCH METHOD

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of feeding poultry, and also to poultry feeders particularly useful in such method.

Many types of poultry feeders are known as described, for example, in US Patent 6,349,672 and 6,655,317. Such known poultry feeders generally include a feed pan suspended from a feed delivery tube over the ground a distance which is periodically increased as the poultry matures in order to provide convenient access of the feed to the poultry as the poultry matures. However, when the poultry is very young, e.g. during its first few days, the pan is not conveniently accessible to such poultry, and therefore the feed is usually distributed manually directly on the ground, or with some other devices. The manual distribution of the feed directly on the ground involves additional labor which is a significant cost item in raising poultry.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of feeding poultry which enables the poultry feeder, normally used for feeding the poultry as the poultry matures, also to be used for feeding the very young poultry not able to conveniently access the feed in the feed pan. Another object of the present invention is to provide a poultry feeder particularly useful in the above method.

According to a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of feeding poultry, comprising:

(a) providing a poultry feeder including: (i) a feeder conduit mountable in suspension to a feed delivery tube with the upper end in communication with the feed delivery tube for receiving feed therefrom, and the lower end open to permit gravity— flow of feed therethrough; (ii) a feed pan underlying the feeder conduit and formed with at least one opening dimensioned and located for feeding feed therethrough; and (iii) a flow-control device actuatable to an open condition to permit gravity-flow of feed through said opening, or to a closed position to block gravity-flow of feed through said opening, and thereby to cause the feed from the feeder conduit to be retained in said feed pan; (b) suspending said poultry feeder over an underlying surface accessible to the poultry;

(c) while the poultry is very young, spacing said poultry feeder over said underlying surface, and actuating said flow-control device to its open condition, to thereby cause the feed to flow through said opening in the feed pan onto said underlying surface for convenient access to said very young poultry; and

(d) as the poultry matures, moving said poultry feeder into engagement with the ground, or raising said poultry feeder above the ground, and actuating said feed-control device to its closed condition, to thereby cause the feed to be retained in said feed pan for convenient access to said maturing poultry.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a poultry feeder, particularly useful in the above method for feeding poultry as the poultry matures, the poultry feeder comprising: a feeder conduit mountable in suspension to a feed delivery tube with the upper end in communication with the feed delivery tube for receiving feed therefrom, and the lower end open to permit gravity-flow of feed therethrough; a feed pan underlying the feeder conduit and formed with at least one opening dimensioned and located for feeding feed therethrough; and a flow-control device actuatable to an open condition to permit gravity— flow of feed through the opening, or to a closed position to block gravity-flow of feed through the opening, and thereby to cause the feed from the feeder conduit to be retained in the feed pan.

Several embodiments of the invention are described below for purposes of example. In some described embodiments, the inner conical member is rotatable, and in others it is axially moveable, with respect to the outer conical member to the open and closed positions.

In several described preferred embodiments, the opening in the feed pan is centrally of the pan; and the flow-control device includes an outer conical member received within the opening, and an inner conical member received within the outer conical member; one of the conical members being moveable with respect to the other to open and closed positions defining the open and closed conditions, respectively, of the flow-control device. In some described embodiments, the inner conical member is rotatable, and in others it is axially moveable, with respect to the outer conical member to the open and closed positions.

According to a further important feature in some described preferred embodiments, the poultry feeder further includes a ground-engageable element effective, when engaging the ground, to automatically actuate the flow-control device to its closed condition.

Other embodiments are described wherein the poultry feeder further includes a conical member between the feeder conduit and feed pan to distribute the feed to the periphery of the feed pan; the feed pan includes a plurality of openings around its periphery; and the flow-control device includes a cover overlying the feed pan and rotatable to open and closed positions with respect to the plurality of openings.

The invention is preferably implemented in a poultry feeder which further includes a level-control device settable to vary the level of the feed retained in the feed pan in the closed condition of the flow-control device; the level-control device being reset, as the poultry further matures, to increase the level of the feed retained in the feed pan for convenient access to the further maturing poultry.

As will be described more particularly below, such a method and poultry feeder can be used for providing convenient access to the poultry for the complete life of the poultry, from its first few days to full maturity, and thereby eliminates the need and the expense of manually distributing the feed to the ground, or of additional feeding devices, for convenient access to very young poultry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. IA is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating one form of poultry feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention, the poultry feeder being shown in its closed condition;

Fig. IB is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled region of Fig. IA; Fig. 1C is a view of the poultry feeder of Fig. IA but illustrating it in its open position;

Fig. ID is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled region of Fig. 1C; Figs. IE and IF are three-dimensional views of the two flow-control members of Figs. 1 A-ID in their open and closed positions, respectively;

Figs. IG and IH are exploded three-dimensional views of the flow-control members of Figs. IE and IF in their closed positions; Figs. 2 A and 2B are sectional views of a second poultry feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention, in their open and closed positions, respectively;

Fig. 2C and 2D illustrate the pair of flow-control members of Figs. 2A and 2B in their closed and open positions, respectively;

Fig. 2E is an enclosed bottom view of Fig. 2C; Fig. 2F is a sectional view along line F — F of Fig. 2E;

Fig. 2G is an enclosed top view of Fig. 2D; Fig. 2H is a sectional view along line H — H of Fig. 2G; Figs. 3A-3H are views similar to those of Figs. 2A-2H, of a poultry feeder constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. -4 A is a three-dimensional view illustrating the pair of flow-control members according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, in their closed position; Fig. 4B is an enclosed end view of Fig. 4 A;

Figs. 4C, 4D and 4E are sectional views along lines C — C, D — D and E — E, respectively, of Fig. 4B; Figs. 4F-4J are views, corresponding to those of Figs. 4A-4E, respectively, but illustrating the flow-control members in their open position;

Figs. 4K and 4L are exploded fragmentary views particularly illustrating the locking and releasing mechanism in the flow-control member of Fig. 4 A;

Figs. 5A-5E are views corresponding to Figs. 4A-4E, respectively, but illustrating the flow-control members in their open positions according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5F is a sectional view along line F — F of Fig. 5D;

Figs. 5G-5L are corresponding views of the flow-control members in their closed positions; Fig. 5M is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating particularly the locking and releasing mechanism of the flow-control members of Figs. 5A-5L; Figs. 6A and 6B are longitudinal sectional views illustrating the flow-control members according to a sixth embodiment of the invention in their closed and open positions, respectively;

Fig. 6C illustrates the locking stem of the outer conical member of Figs. 6 A and 6B;

Figs. 7 A and 7B are isometric views, from different sides, of a poultry feeder constructed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention, showing the poultry feeder in its closed and open condition, respectively;

Figs. 7C and 7D are sectional views of the poultry feeder of Figs. 7A and 7B, respectively;

Figs. 7E and 7F are enlarged fragmentary views of the encircled regions of Fig. 7C;

Figs. 7G and 7H are enlarged fragmentary views of the encircled regions in Fig. 7D; Figs. 8A-8D are views, corresponding to those of Figs. 7A-7D, but illustrating a poultry feeder constructed in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 8E and 8F are enlarged fragmentary views of the encircled regions of Figs. 8C and 8D, respectively.

It is to be understood that the foregoing drawings, and the description below, are provided primarily for purposes of facilitating understanding the conceptual aspects of the invention and possible embodiments thereof, including what is presently considered to be a preferred embodiment. In the interest of clarity and brevity, no attempt is made to provide more details than necessary to enable one skilled in the art, using routine skill and design, to understand and practice the described invention. It is to be further understood that the embodiments described are for purposes of example only, and that the invention is capable of being embodied in other forms and applications than described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is described below with respect to eight embodiments as illustrated in Figs. 1-8, respectively. The First Embodiment (Figs. 1 A-IH)

This embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 A-IH, is implemented in a poultry feeder very similar to that described in the above-cited US Patent 6,349,672. As shown particularly in Figs. IA and 1C, the poultry feeder includes a feeder conduit 2 constructed to be mounted in suspension to a feed delivery tube 3, with the upper end of the feeder conduit in communication with the feed delivery tube to permit receiving feed therefrom. The lower end 4 of feeder conduit 2 is located above and supports a feed pan 5 to permit gravity-flow of feed into the pan. A level-control device 6 is supportable at the upper end of a plurality of posts 7 carried by a circular base 8.

As described in the above-cited patent, level-control device 6 includes a plurality of radiating arms 9. Feed pan 5 is formed with a central opening 5a circumscribed by a plurality of tubular guides 5b for receiving posts 7. The tubular guides 5b are formed with notches 5c at different levels cooperable with seat 9a in the radiating arms 9 of level-control device 6, such that setting the level-control device 6 to a selected position with respect to notches 5c selects the level of the feed to accumulate within feed pan 5. Preference is made to Figs. 7A, 7B 8A and 8B which more clearly illustrates level- control device 6.

Further details of the construction and manner of using the poultry feeder illustrated in Figs. IA and 1C, and particularly the manner of presetting the level of the feed within the feed pan 5, are described in the above-cited US Patent 6,349,672.

The poultry feeder illustrated in US Patent 6,349.672 further includes a conical member located within opening 5a of feed pan 5 for distributing the feed to the periphery of the feed pan in order to provide convenient access of the feed to the poultry. As described in that patent, as the poultry matures, the level-control device 6 is manually changed to thereby vary the level of the feed within feed pan 5, and/or the level at which the poultry feeder is suspended over the ground is changed by changing the elevation of the feed delivery tube 3.

Such poultry feeders, however, if used when the poultry is very young, e.g. the first few days of life, is used with an additional device and/or manual distribution, since such young poultry cannot conveniently access the feed in the feed pan even if at a very low level. An important advantage of the poultry feeder illustrated in Figs. 1 A-IH of the present invention is that it permits the same poultry feeder also to be used for feeding extremely young poultry that cannot access the feed on the feed pan 5.

For this purpose, the illustrated poultry feeder includes a flow-control device actuatable to an open condition to permit gravity-flow of feed through opening 5 a in feed pan 5, or to a closed condition to block gravity-flow through the opening. Thus, when the poultry is very young, e.g. during the first few days of life, the poultry feeder is spaced over the ground (or other underlying surface, such as a tray), and the flow-control device of the poultry feeder is actuated to its open condition, to thereby cause the feed to flow through opening 5a, to the underlying surface for convenient access to the very young poultry. As the poultry matures, the poultry feeder is rested on the ground, or raised above the ground, and the flow-control device is actuated to its closed condition, to thereby cause the feed to be retained hi the feed pan 5 for convenient access to the maturing poultry. The flow-control device in the poultry feeder of this embodiment includes a pair of flow-control members, generally designated 110 and 120, underlying the open end of feeder conduit 2 for controlling the gravity-flow of feed therefrom into feed pan 5. In this embodiment, the flow— control members 110 and 120 are conical members vertically aligned with each other and having outer conical surfaces 111 and 121, respectively. As shown particularly in Figs. IG and IH, the upper conical member 110 is the outer one and is formed with at least one passageway 112; and the lower conical member 120 is the inner one and is formed with a corresponding passageway 122 alignable with passageway 112 to permit gravity-flow of feed through the pan 5 onto the ground when the two are aligned, but to block gravity-flow of feed when the two are not aligned. The inner conical member is rotatable with respect to the outer conical member to align or dis-align the two passageways 112 and 122, respectively. Thus, when the inner conical member 120 is rotated to align its passageway 122 with passageway 112 of the outer conical member 110 (Figs IE), the flow-control device is open, and the feed from the feeder conduit 2 gravity-flows through the two or more aligned passageway to the ground or tray underlying the feed pan 5. On the other hand, when the two passageways are dis-aligned, (Fig. IF), the flow-control device is closed, and the feed flows directly into the periphery of the feeder pan 5 and is retained there. While the drawings illustrate only two passageways 112, 122, in the two conical members 110 and 120, respectively, it will be appreciated that the poultry feeder could include a plurality of such passageways circumferentially-spaced so as to produce, when the conical members are in their aligned positions (the open condition of the flow-control device), a plurality of piles of the feed on the ground or tray underlying the feed pan 5. The operation of the poultry feeder illustrated in Figs. 1 A-IH will be apparent from the above description. Thus, when the poultry is extremely young (e.g. during the first few days of life), the poultry feeder is raised above the ground, and the inner conical member 120 is rotated to its open position, to thereby permit the feed from feeder conduit 2 to gravity-flow through opening 5 a in feed pan 5 onto the ground or underlying tray, so as to be conveniently accessible to the very young poultry. As the poultry matures, the inner conical member 120 is rotated to its closed position, and the poultry feeder is lowered to rest on the ground or raised above the ground. Accordingly, the feed from feeder conduit 2 will now flow into the periphery of feed pan 5 for convenient access to the poultry. As the poultry further matures, level-control device 6 will be re-set to increase the level of the feed within pan 5, and/or the level at which the poultry feeder is suspended over the ground is changed by changing the elevation of the feed delivery tube 3, in order to make the feed conveniently accessible to the maturing poultry.

It will thus be seen that the poultry feeder illustrated in Figs. 1 A— IH may be used for feeding the poultry from day one to the full maturity of the poultry.

The Second Embodiment (Figs. 2A-2G)

In this embodiment, the flow-control members, generally designated 210 and 220, respectively, may also be controlled so as to discharge the feed directly onto the ground or underlying tray around the poultry feeder, or into the feed pan, to make the feed readily accessible to the poultry from the first days of life.

In this embodiment, the flow-control members 210 and 220, respectively, are also conical members having conical surfaces 211 and 221, respectively, for distributing the feed circumferentially around the poultry feeder. The outer conical member 210 is formed with a circular array of openings 212, so that, when the device feeds to the ground, the feed is distributed around the device. The on/off control of the feed is effected by moving the inner conical member 220 axially towards or away from the outer conical member 210 to cause conical surface 221 to open (Fig. 2A) and close (Fig. 2B) the openings 212.

For this purpose, the outer conical member 210 fixedly carries a central stem 213. Stem 213 includes a rubber ring 214 receivable within an externally-threaded hollow stem 223 integral with the inner conical member 220. Hollow stem 223 is formed with an upper detent 224 and with a lower detent 225 seatable over ring 214 in the upper (closed) position or lower (open) position of the inner conical member.

The inner conical member 220 carries a handlebar 226 (Figs. 2E, 2F) extending transversely across its open end to facilitate the rotation of the inner conical member. In addition, its hollow stem 223 is threaded on its outer surface so as to mate with the inner threads of the outer conical member 210. Thus, rotation of the inner conical member 220 moves it axially in one or the other direction, according to the direction of rotation, with respect to the outer conical member 210. Its detents 224 and 225, seatable over ring 214 of stem 213, retain the inner conical member 220 in its closed or open position. The poultry feeder of this second embodiment is otherwise used in the same manner as described above with respect to the first embodiment for providing the poultry with convenient access to the feed during all stages of development of the poultry, starting from its first few days wherein the feed is directed onto the ground, and the later stages of maturity where the feed is directed into the feed pan 205.

The Third Embodiment (Figs.3A-3G)

This embodiment includes two conical members 310 and 320, corresponding to conical members 210 and 220 of the second embodiment, but modified to produce an axial displacement of the inner conical member 320 with respect to the outer conical member 310 by pulling-out the inner conical member, rather than by rotating it.

Thus, outer conical member 310 includes inner conical surface 311 and the openings 312. In addition, it fixedly carries a central stem 313 which has a smooth outer surface and an upper protuberance 314, and a lower annular shoulder 315 for the spring 327. In addition, outer conical member 310 also fixedly carries a hollow stem 316 radially spaced from central stem 313. The hollow stem 316 is formed with axially- extending slots 316a, 316b and with an inner recess 316c.

The inner conical member 320 includes an outer conical surface 321 and a transversely-extending bar 322 across its open end to facilitate moving the conical member. It further includes a split hollow stem defining a plurality of axially-extending legs 323, each formed with a detent 325 at its upper end and co-operable with protuberance 314 of the fixed stem 313. It further includes a pair of laterally-extending projections of pins 326 receivable in slots 316a, 316b of stem 316. The illustrated poultry feeder further includes a spring 327 for returning the inner conical member 320 to its closed position.

Fig. 3 A illustrates the poultry feeder in its closed position. In this position, the conical surface 321 of the inner conical member engages the conical surface 311 of the outer conical member, to close its openings 312; in addition, the detents 325 of the inner conical member are seated on the upper protuberance 314 of the fixed stem 313 as shown in Fig. 3F.

When it is desired to open the poultry feeder to produce a gravity-flow of the feed, handlebar 322 is grasped, pulled downwardly to the open condition illustrated in Fig. 3B, and then rotated to seat its pin 326 in a recess 316c in stem 316, to thereby lock the poultry feeder in its open condition. This opening of the poultry feeder stresses spring 327, so that whenever the handlebar is rotated slightly to release it from its locked condition, the spring will automatically return the inner conical member 320 to its closed position (Fig. 3A).

The Fourth Embodiment (Figs. 4A-4 J)

This embodiment includes flow-control conical members 410 and 420 corresponding to the conical members in the third embodiment. However, this embodiment further includes a depressible push-button assembly 430 for releasing the device from a locked open position to enable the return spring 427 to return the inner conical member 420 to its closed condition when the push-button assembly is depressed. This embodiment is particularly useful for closing a plurality of such poultry feeders, automatically and at one time, by merely lowering the feed delivery tube (3, Fig. IA) carrying them until their push-button assemblies 430 engage the ground, at which time their inner conical members 420 are released for automatic closure by their return springs 427.

Thus, as shown particularly in Figs. 4H-4J, the poultry feeder of this embodiment is also constructed with an outer conical member 410 having a conical surface 411, openings 412, and a center fixed stem 413 formed with an upper protuberance 414, and a lower annular shoulder 413a for the spring 427. Outer conical member 410 further includes a fixed hollow sleeve 416 formed with axially-extending slots 416a, 416b, and with an inner annular shoulder 416c.

The inner conical member 420 includes a conical surface 421 and a handle (not shown) graspable by the user for lowering the conical member. Inner conical member 420 further includes: a hollow stem 423 having an outwardly— biased tongue 423a (Fig. 4L) on each side to engage shoulder 416c of sleeve 416; a retainer detent 424 cooperable with protuberances 414; and a shoulder 425 at its upper end for the return spring 427. Push-button assembly 430 includes a depressible push-button 431 , a central stem

432 movable within fixed stem 413 of the outer conical member 410, and axially- extending legs 433, 434 having tips 433a, 434a moveable within slots 416a, 416b of hollow stem 416 fixed within the outer conical member 410. A biasing spring 435 is interposed between push-button 431 and annular shoulder 413a of the fixed stem 413. This embodiment operates as follows:

When it is desired to open the poultry feeder to permit gravity-flow of the feed, a handle (not shown) on the inner conical member 420 is grasped and pulled downwardly to the position illustrated in Figs. 4H-4F. The inner conical member 420 is retained in this open position by tongue 423 a engaging shoulder 416c of fixed sleeve 416. When it is desired to close the poultry feeder, button 431 of push-button assembly

430 is depressed inwardly. This may be done manually. However, an important advantage of this embodiment is that this may also be done automatically, and simultaneously in a plurality of poultry feeders carried by a common feed delivery tube (3, Fig. 1), by merely lowering the feed delivery tube until the push-buttons 431 of all the poultry feeders are depressed by engagement with the ground. When push-button 431 is depressed, either manually or by ground engagement, its axial legs 433, 434 move through slots 416a, 416b of hollow sleeve 416, and engage tongues 423a to press them inwardly such as to cause them to clear shoulder 416c of the hollow sleeve. As soon as this occurs, return spring 427, which is in a strained condition when the poultry feeder is open, immediately moves inner conical member 220 upwardly until detent 424 seats in the upper protuberance 414, thereby closing the feeder. The Fifth Embodiment (Figs. 5A-5M)

This embodiment is similar to the third embodiment in that to open, it is necessary to pull-down and rotate, and also similar to the fourth embodiment, except that it includes a slightly different release mechanism operated by the push-button assembly. For purposes of conciseness, only those parts in the fifth embodiment which are involved in the above modification are described below and are identified by reference numerals in the "500" series. Those parts generally the same as in the third and fourth embodiment are identified by the same reference numerals. The main modification is particularly shown in Fig. 5 M, wherein it will be seen that each of the side legs 533, 534 of push-button 531 has a cam surface, shown at 534a, engageable with a pin 526 on hollow stem 523 of the inner conical member 520 for rotating stem 523, sufficiently to cause its pin 526 to release from recess 516c of central stem 516 fixed to the outer conical member 510. The structure and operation of the fifth embodiment are otherwise substantially the same as described above with respect to the fourth embodiment.

The Sixth Embodiment (Figs. 6A-6C)

This embodiment illustrates a poultry feeder including a relatively simple, manually-operated, flow-control mechanism for controlling the feed.

Thus, this embodiment includes an outer conical member 610 formed with a conical surface 611, openings 612, and a central fixed stem 613. In addition, the feeder includes a sleeve 614 fixed within the outer conical member 610, and formed with an upper pair of bayonet slots 615, and a lower pair of bayonet slots 616. The interior of sleeve 614 is formed with two axially-extending slots 617, 618 each joining an upper bayonet slot 615 to a lower bayonet slot 616 on each side.

The inner conical member 620 is also of similar construction as described above, including a conical surface 621, a transversely-extending handlebar 622, and a hollow stem 623 received within sleeve 614 of the outer conical member 610. Stem 623 further includes a pair of laterally-extending projections or pins 624 selectively receivable in either the upper bayonet slots 615 or the lower bayonet slots 616 of sleeve 614.

Fig. 6 A illustrates the two conical members 610 and 620 in the closed condition of the poultry feeder. When it is desired to open the poultry feeder, handlebar 622 is grasped; rotated slightly to move the lateral projections 624 out of the upper bayonet slots 615 into alignment with the two axially-extending slots 617, 618; pulled downwardly to its open condition; and then rotated back to seat the lateral projections 624 into the lower bayonet slots 616 and thereby to lock the conical members in that position, as shown in Fig. 6B.

In order to open the poultry feeder, handlebar 622 of the inner conical member 620 is grasped, rotated slightly, pushed upwardly, and then rotated back to lock the conical member in their closed positions.

The Seventh Embodiment (Figs. 7A-7H)

This embodiment also includes a pair of flow-control members movable relative to each other to open and close the feed, but in this case the feed pan 705 having openings 705a is one control member, and an overlying cover 709 having openings 709a is the other control member. In this embodiment, overlying cover 709 is rotatable with respect to the feed pan 705, so as to align opening 709a with openings 705a when gravity-feed is to be produced, and to dis-align the openings when the gravity-feed is to be interrupted.

This embodiment also includes a conical member 710 underlying the feeder conduit 703, but the purpose this conical member is to distribute the feed peripherally around the inner circumference of the feed pan 705.

In all other respects, this embodiment is constructed and used substantially in the same manner as described above.

The Eighth Embodiment (Figs. 8A-8H) This embodiment is similar to that of the seventh embodiment, in that it includes a feed pan 805 having openings 805a which are selectably coverable or uncoverable by an overlying cover 809 having openings 809a, and a central conical member 810 for distributing the feed around the center region of the feed pan. In this case, however, the cover is moveable axially towards and away from the feed pan, as well as rotated with respect to the feed pan. Accordingly, to align or dis-align the openings in the cover and feed pan, it is necessary to first lift the cover off the pan, rotate it, and then return it onto the pan. While the invention has been described with respect to several preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example, and that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of feeding poultry, comprising:

(a) providing a poultry feeder including: (i) a feeder conduit mountable in suspension to a feed delivery tube with the upper end in communication with the feed delivery tube for receiving feed therefrom, and the lower end open to permit gravity- flow of feed therethrough; (ii) a feed pan underlying the feeder conduit and formed with at least one opening dimensioned and located for feeding feed therethrough; and (iii) a flow-control device actuatable to an open condition to permit gravity-flow of feed through the opening, or to a closed position to block gravity— flow of feed through the opening, and thereby to cause the feed from the feeder conduit to be retained in the feed pan;

(b) suspending the poultry feeder over an underlying surface accessible to the poultry;

(c) while the poultry is very young, spacing the poultry feeder over the underlying surface, and actuating the flow-control device to its open condition, to thereby cause the feed to flow through the opening in the feed pan onto the underlying surface for convenient access to the very young poultry; and

(d) as the poultry matures, moving the poultry feeder into engagement with the ground, or raising it above the ground and actuating the flow-control device to its closed condition, to thereby cause the feed to be retained in the feed pan for convenient access to the maturing poultry.

2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the opening in the feed pan is centrally of the pan; and wherein the flow-control device includes an outer conical member received within the opening, and an inner conical member received within the outer conical member; one of the conical members being moveable with respect to the other to open and closed positions defining the open and closed conditions, respectively, of the flow-control device.

3. The method according to Claim 2, wherein the inner conical member is rotatable with respect to the outer conical member to the open and closed positions.

4. The method according to Claim 2, wherein the inner conical member is axially-moveable with respect to the outer conical member to the open and closed positions.

5. The method according to Claim 4, wherein the inner conical member, when in its open position, is rotatable in one direction to lock it in the open position, and in the opposite direction to release it from its open position.

6. The method according to Claim 5, wherein the inner conical member is manually moveable to its open position and spring— urged to its closed position.

7. The method according to Claim 6, wherein the inner conical member includes a release button which, when depressed while the inner conical member is in its locked open position, rotates the inner conical member to its released position to thereby permit it to be spring-returned to its closed position.

8. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the poultry feeder further includes a ground-engageable element effective, when engaging the ground, to automatically actuate the flow-control device to its closed condition.

9. The method according to Claim 1, wherein: the poultry feeder further includes a conical member between the feeder conduit and feed pan to distribute the feed to the periphery of the feed pan; the feed pan includes a plurality of openings around its periphery; and the flow-control device includes a cover overlying the feed pan and rotatable to open and closed positions with respect to the plurality of openings.

10. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the poultry feeder further includes a level-control device settable to vary the level of the feed retained in the feed pan in the closed condition of the flow-control device; the level-control device being re-set, as the poultry further matures, to increase the level of the feed retained in the feed pan for convenient access to the further maturing poultry.

11. A poultry feeder particularly useful for feeding poultry as the poultry matures, the poultry feeder comprising: a feeder conduit mountable in suspension to a feed delivery tube with the upper end in communication with the feed delivery tube for receiving feed therefrom, and the lower end open to permit gravity-flow of feed therethrough; a feed pan underlying the feeder conduit and formed with at least one opening dimensioned and located for feeding feed therethrough; and a flow-control device actuatable to an open condition to permit gravity-flow of feed through the opening, or to a closed position to block gravity-flow of feed through the opening, and thereby to cause the feed from the feeder conduit to be retained in the feed pan.

12. The poultry feeder according to Claim 11, wherein the opening in the feed pan is centrally of the pan; and wherein the flow-control device includes an outer conical member received within the opening, and an inner conical member received within the outer conical member; one of the conical members being moveable with respect to the other to open and closed positions defining the open and closed conditions, respectively, of the flow-control device.

13. The poultry feeder according to Claim 12, wherein the inner conical member is rotatable with respect to the outer conical member to the open and closed positions.

14. The poultry feeder according to Claim 12, wherein the inner conical member is axially-moveable with respect to the outer conical member to the open and closed positions.

15. The poultry feeder according to Claim 14, wherein the inner conical member, when in its open position, is rotatable irr one direction to lock it in the open position, and in the opposite direction to release it from its open position.

16. The poultry feeder according to Claim 15, wherein the inner conical member is manually moveable to its open position and spring-urged to its closed position.

17. The poultry feeder according to Claim 16, wherein the inner conical member includes a release button which, when depressed while the inner conical member is in its locked open position, rotates the inner conical member to its released position to thereby permit it to be spring-returned to its closed position.

18. The poultry feeder according to Claim 11, wherein the poultry feeder further includes a ground-engageable element effective, when engaging the ground, to automatically actuate the flow-control device to its closed condition.

19. The poultry feeder according to Claim 11, wherein: the poultry feeder further includes a conical member between the feeder conduit and feed pan to distribute the feed to the periphery of the feed pan; the feed pan includes a plurality of openings around its periphery; and the flow-control device includes a cover overlying the feed pan and rotatable to open and closed positions with respect to the plurality of openings.

20. The poultry feeder according to Claim 11, wherein the poultry feeder further includes a level-control device settable to vary the level of the feed retained in the feed pan in the closed condition of the flow-control device; the level-control device being re— set, as the poultry further matures, to increase the level of the feed retained in the feed pan for convenient access to the further maturing poultry.