Abstract: A poultry cage for accomodating most species of domesticated birds from the day of hatching to maturity having a generally rectangular, rigid, open frame structure with the sides, top and floor covered with an open mesh material. The mesh on the top surface has smaller openings than the rest to catch and retain the manure from any above cages and allow it to quickly air dry due to natural ventilation. The floor of the cage is hinged along the rear edge and includes a positional catch at each front corner to allow the floor to be held in various positions or opened and removed completely. A portion of the cage floor spaced from the front and hinged parallel to the front edge is provided to pivot upwardly so as to lean against the cage front to trap the young birds in the front portion of the cage keeping them near the source of feed and water. A portion of the cage top is hinged to permit placing or removing birds from the cage.

Abstract: A cage front for use in poultry cages for the rearing of fowl from their first day to market age having a plurality of bifurcated bars mounted in vertical, adjacent positions to form the cage front. The bars are equally spaced horizontally and are aligned to form a symmetrical pattern of openings. Each bar has a straight stem section with a pair of downwardly extending legs which have a sinuous or curved configuration. This configuration forms a plurality of alternating vertical openings and constrictions between the legs and bars, with the widest vertical openings in the area of the upper stem sections. In an alternate configuration, the width of the legs are increased toward their ends so that the openings are tapered and decrease in width towards the floor of the cage. The series of vertical openings thus allow poultry of various sizes or species to extend their head through the cage front without restricting the raising of the head during the feeding and watering process.

Abstract: An egg layer system for the production of poultry eggs which includes a plurality of tiered, open mesh wire cages arranged back-to-back and mounted in a plurality of rows extending the length of an elongated, rectangular building enclosure. The cage rows are arranged so as to form equally spaced aisles between facing cages. At the base of the cage rows is a parallel track assembly provided to permit a servicing carriage to be moved along the individual aisles. An open, transverse aisle is provided at each end of the cage rows which include guide means for directing the service carriage from one aisle into the next aisle for forming a continuous, closed-circuit path for the movement of the carriages along each of the cage rows of the entire system. No feed or water troughs are provided in the cages with the feed and water provisions included in the service carriages.