Abstract: A poultry management system having at least one animal holding area with a holding area floor for a poultry animal occupying the animal holding area and a conveyor comprising a conveyor belt having an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track. The lower track is disposed adjacent to the animal holding area and is adapted to receive one or more eggs deposited by the poultry animal occupying the animal holding area and transfer the one or more eggs for further processing.

Abstract: An enrichment system and method for animals in captivity is disclosed. Generally speaking, the system includes an automated dispenser and a plurality of tokens to be placed about an animal enclosure. The dispenser includes a suitable housing, a reservoir for containing animal-suitable rewards, a token receptacle, a reward output connected to the reservoir, and a mechanism for releasing animal-suitable rewards from the reservoir into the reward output when tokens are deposited into the receptacle. The mechanism for releasing animal suitable rewards is activated by the deposit of a token in the token receptacle.

Abstract: A hydroponic tower including a cavity defining a front tower surface and a rear inside surface, and further including a plant plug holder inserted within a cut-out defined in the front tower surface. The plant plug holder includes an edge member that encircles the cut-out, and a base member that supports a plant plug and extends rearward from the edge member and into the cavity of the tower. The plug holder further includes a rear shroud top member and a pair of side members that maintain the position of the plant plug within the plug holder such that the plant plug contacts the rear inside surface of the cavity when inserted into the plug holder.

Abstract: A plant plug holding unit is provided, the plant plug holding unit including at least one plant plug holder. The plant plug holding unit, which is configured to be inserted into a cut-out in a hydroponic tower face plate, includes an edge member that encircles the unit and is sealed to the rear surface of the front tower face. Each individual plant plug holder of the plant plug holding unit includes (i) a base member configured to support a plant plug and which extends rearward from the edge member and into the hydroponic tower cavity; (ii) a top shroud member that inhibits leakage as well as plug erosion; (iii) a pair of side members that maintain the position of the plant plug within the plug holder; and (iv) a plurality of open regions configured to promote water drainage from the plant plug.

Abstract: A new type of structure for mounting solar modules addresses the problem of solar access in several ways. Firstly, the structure can enclose a living plant and protect it and equipment. This allows improved acceptance and can provide a means for ground mounted solar to be classified as landscape by permitting authorities. This can make a large difference in the amount of area a land owner can use to mount solar modules. Also, the structure can make better use of recently developed solar technology like AC modules, microinverters and optimizers by allowing a solar designer to predefine a non-planar insolation surface that can be implemented using locally made materials. By allowing a custom non-planar design the solar plant support structure can more closely match loads, lower energy storage costs, energy transmission costs and make better use of limited solar access.

Abstract: An aquaculture system which has a pen, a control system, a pumping mechanism coupled to the pen, and a set of buoyancy tanks coupled to the pen. The pen can be disposed in a body of water and at least temporarily stores aquatic animals during development. The control system receives electric power from a power source and provides electric power to the pumping mechanism to provide a flow of water through the pen. A portion of the control system is in fluid communication with the set of buoyancy tanks and adjusts a volume of fluid in at least one buoyancy tank to move the pen from a first position in which the pen is partially submerged in the body of water to a second position in which the pen is fully submerged in the body of water.

Abstract: A dog bark control device which includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a stimulation applying means, and a control unit. The control unit determines whether the animal barks, and when the animal is determined to bark, operates the stimulation applying means to apply stimulation to the animal. The control unit determines that the animal barks when the first sensing signal of the first sensor is a signal indicating that the animal barks, and at the same time, the animal is determined to make a particular motion accompanied by barking from the second sensing signal of the second sensor.

Abstract: A chemical applicator for a pet door includes a substantially wedge shaped body defining a chemical reservoir therebetween. The wedge shaped body presents a ramped transition between the surface of the pet door above the chemical applicator and the front of the chemical applicator being devoid of substantial sharp edges of protrusions that may otherwise strike the pet or snag a collar of the pet as the pet brushes past the applicator. The front of the applicator includes a slit having a planar wick therethrough and therealong, the wick extending through the slit so as to define an interior portion for being soaked by a liquid chemical within the reservoir and an exterior chemical application portion. In use, as the pet brushes past the pet door and the chemical application portion rubs across the hide of the pet, applying the liquid chemical thereon.

Abstract: A pet-monitoring system including at least one of a wearable component, base station and user device. The system utilizes data collected from each of these components as well as the state of any connections between the devices to: (i) make various determinations about the pet's health and environment; (ii) notify the user of substantial changes in the pet's health and environment; (iii) determine how to efficiently utilize communication, monitoring or interaction modules within the wearable component, base station and user device; and (iv) automate interactions with the pet using interaction modules within the wearable component, base station and user device.

Abstract: The application discloses a spray applicator system attachable to a poultry feeder for accurately and precisely dosing liquid formulations, including vaccines and probiotic formulations, to caged avian animals. The application discloses spray applicators, having improved acceptance by the avian animals, relative to more disruptive prior spray applicators. The disclosed automated caged spray applicator system is designed to attach to and function with automated poultry feeding systems, routinely used in poultry house settings.

Abstract: A fluid removal system for an assembly line grow pod is provided. The fluid removal system includes a track, a cart configured to move on the track, a fluid removal manifold provided over the track, and a controller. The cart includes one or more cells. The fluid removal manifold includes a body, and one or more nozzles attached to the body. The controller determines whether fluid in the cart needs to be removed, operates the fluid removal manifold to align the one or more nozzles with the one or more cells of the cart in response to determination that the fluid in the cart needs to be removed, and instructs the fluid removal manifold to remove fluid from one or more cells of the cart through the one or more nozzles.

Abstract: A retractable leash device (e.g., for pets, children, or the like) having a length control system for limiting the extendable length of a main line is provided. The device includes a cover plate mounted on a wind-up spool and having at least one ridged channel that interacts with a length control switch during line extension to control the extendable length of the main line while simultaneously maintaining the retractability of the main line.

Abstract: A feeding tray belongs to the technical field of pet products. The feeding tray includes a tray body and a base. The tray body is detachably fixed to the base. A plurality of through-holes are provided in the tray body. Each of the through-holes penetrates through the tray body in a thickness direction. The feeding tray further includes a plurality of connecting pillars. Each of the connecting pillars is inserted into a corresponding one of the through-holes, and each of the connecting pillars is capable of rotating about its own axis. Each of the connecting pillars is provided with a first boss on the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: An in-ground water distribution assembly includes a ground water capture cup with a top rim defining an open end, a location spike fitted to the bottom of the ground water capture cup, the location spike extending downward orthogonally from the bottom of the capture cup, a plurality of vertical support risers connected or seated in riser seats distributed about the inside wall of the capture cup, the vertical risers extending upward and at angle inward toward center of the capture cup and fitted to a vertical feeder tube, and a water pressure flow regulator having an inline feeder nozzle and an egress pressure valve mechanism connected to the feeder tube at top center of the assembly.

Abstract: The invention is an important innovation in mushroom culture in which not only are mycelia beneficially grown on the novel combination of a grain (or seed) and an herb, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the mycelial mass is grown in a co-fermentation with all of a grain (or seed), an herb and a juice.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding bait for rodents that includes a housing that can be inserted into a manhole, the housing having one or more bait platform, a passage through the housing for rodents to access the bait platform, and optionally a mechanism to prohibit exposure of bait on the bait platform to the environment containing the housing.

Abstract: A modular plant growth apparatus for large-scale commercial and residential uses having a housing with a top portion which is a flat panel, a bottom portion and two sides, each side having several hinges which can hingedly connect to a corresponding side of another flat panel, the top portion having a front side with removable plant wells, the bottom portion being angled to act as a stability support portion. The apparatus also including a light source and at least one plant in each plant well. Several housings can be hingedly connected to corresponding other housings so various modular configurations can be formed so as to maximize plant growth.

Abstract: The fishing tool includes an elongated member having a handle disposed at a first end thereof. The handle includes an open lower end. Indicia indicating various length measurements are disposed along the length of the elongated member. A scale is disposed within the elongated member, wherein the scale includes a hook operably affixed thereto, the hook extending through the open lower end. A mounting member is removably affixed to an exterior surface of the elongated member, wherein the mounting member can secure the elongated member to a mount.

Abstract: A U-shaped perch for a bird feeder which is selectively movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to the bird feeder. The perch is horizontally slidably mounted in a support at the lower end of a feed port positioned in a feed opening formed in the bird feeder. The perch is selectively locked in its extended position. The perch and the support cooperate to limit the outward extension of the perch with respect to the support. The perch may also be movably mounted on the bird feeder which does not have a feed port.

Abstract: A container can dispense variable amounts of bait, for example, through holes in complementary sleeves. Different configurations can result in different hole sizes and different overlap in attachable sleeves. These differences can allow fishermen flexibility to better control the dispensing of bait and/or chum by varying the size of the openings.