Abstract: A system for remotely opening an access hatch of storage tank includes an elongate arm having a proximal end configured to be operatively coupled to a lid of the access hatch and a distal end extendable past an outer perimeter of the storage tank, and a pull cable attached to the arm at the distal end and being extendable toward a ground surrounding the storage tank. Pulling on the pull cable releases a latch that secures the lid to a base of the access hatch and allows the lid to pivot from a closed position to an open position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hatcher basket for holding newly hatched birds in an incubator. The basket has: —a pair of side walls on horizontally opposite sides having a plurality of horizontally-extending openings through them; —a horizontally-extending trough which is attached to the exterior of each side wall and which can contain feed for the newly hatched birds; —the bottom of each opening in each side wall being located at the same distance above the bottom of the side wall; —the top of each trough being located at this same distance above the bottom of its side wall; and —the size of each opening being significantly larger than the head of the newly hatched birds but significantly smaller than the thorax of the newly hatched birds.

Abstract: A swift let breeding facility, for use in creating and harvesting edible bird's nests. The facility includes sub-systems for injecting live insect and worm prey, and water, into an aerial enclosure to provide a feeding system imitative of a natural swift let feeding environment.

Abstract: A swiftlet breeding facility, for use in creating and harvesting edible bird's nests. The facility includes sub-systems for injecting live insect and worm prey, and water, into an aerial enclosure to provide a feeding system imitative of a natural swiftlet feeding environment.

Abstract: The invention provides for a brooder having a cylindrical emitter and a burner head. The cylindrical emitter is formed from a flat piece of stainless steel which is manipulated in order to secure one end thereof to another end thereof, thereby allowing for reduced costs in packaging and shipping of the brooder and for easy assembly of the emitter after shipping. The burner head is formed of top and bottom plates which are secured together by port spacers of the bottom plate having tabs which extend through apertures of the top plate, and which are folded downwardly toward the top plate.

Abstract: A furnace system for heating a poultry brooder house includes a firebox for burning biomass fuel, and a grate within the firebox for burning the biomass fuel thereon. A distributor assembly may positioned within the firebox and is located directly above the grate. The distributor assembly includes a distributor plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, and a distributor arm above the distributor plate that is movable relative to the distributor plate to cause biomass fuel supported on the plate to pass through the apertures and fall onto the grate. The furnace system may include a hopper assembly that defines a well for receiving a volume of biomass fuel for delivery to the grate or to the distributor plate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for promoting growth of young chicken comprising the step; offering feed in a layered manner in subsequent order of pellet-size for adjusting the pellet-size to the size of the young chicken during a whole brooding cycle for the feed being attractive during the whole brooding cycle as perceived by the young chicken.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for brooding or growing poultry, wherein eggs of the first 3-5 layings of young animals, preferably hens younger than 29 weeks, usually starting from about 26 weeks, are collected and are hatched together, directly after hatching the hatched chicks are provided in crates with about 10-500 animals arranged in stacks in an incubator chamber, in which incubator chamber food and drinking are provided to each crate and the temperature, humidity, CO2 level and flow rate of air are controlled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a climate chamber comprising: (a) at least one heat exchanger for heating or cooling the climate chamber to an optimal temperature for growing young chicks, (b) a main flow (A, Ar) system for heating or cooling the young chicks by transferring heat of cold from the at least one heat exchanger to the young chicks, (c) at least one chamber compartment, at least one side of which is delimited upstream by the at least one heat exchanger, wherein the chamber compartment comprises: (i) a sensor device for measuring one or more parameters selected from the group temperature, relative humidity, CO2 content, flow velocity, in the at least one chamber compartment, and (ii) a secondary flow B system operationally coupled with the sensor device for controlling the one or more parameters. The climate chamber may be used for poultry, in particular young chicken.

Abstract: A foldable poultry brood box having a folding bottom, folding endwalls, and folding sidewalls provides a sheltered environment for the maturation of a brood of young poultry. Preferably, after the brood box is deployed, a floor overlay insert is placed and retained within the brood box to overlay, bridge over, and cover substantial portions of two floor free edges.

Abstract: The present invention has objectives of providing a low-cost, easy-to-handle individual isolation animal breeding unit and a system for using the same, significantly reducing costs of facilities and maintenance for animal experiments and saving on labor, and providing a new animal transportation form. For achieving the objectives, the present invention provides a system for maintaining an animal breeding environment, comprising A) an animal breeding unit capable of comprising an internal tray having a sufficient space for breeding an animal of interest, comprising an external tray capable of accommodating the internal tray, and capable of keeping a predetermined cleanliness degree; B) a method for providing the internal tray having the predetermined cleanliness degree; C) an internal tray exchange unit capable of accommodating the animal breeding unit and exchanging the internal tray while keeping the predetermined cleanliness degree; and D) a method for recovering the exchanged internal tray.

Abstract: An edible bird's nests production facility comprising of: a wholly man made artificial caves system and/or converted natural relief such as caves, valleys, cliffs forming the nesting habitat and associated supporting facilities configured to breed swiftlets for their nests by means of a captive breeding program for swiftlets; commercialized-scientific farming methods; specialized apparatus, mechanisms and techniques; managed sustainable harvesting of nests; provision of a safe and secure nesting habitat and a conducive environment to maximize avian population by minimizing mortality rates; safe collection of nests by means of mechanized lifting systems and specialist mountaineering equipment.

Abstract: A device for centrifugation and robotic manipulation of specimen samples, including incubating eggs, and uses thereof are provided. The device may advantageously be used for the incubation of avian, reptilian or any type of vertebrate eggs. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for holding samples individually, rotating them individually, rotating them on a centrifuge collectively, injecting them individually with a fixative or other chemical reagent, and maintaining them at controlled temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric composition. The device is applicable to experiments involving entities other than eggs, such as invertebrate specimens, plants, microorganisms and molecular systems.

Abstract: A method that increases the volume of fresh air into hatchers (10) during the last 24 hours before chicks are pulled from the hatcher (10). This method increases the volume of fresh air into the hatcher (10), while at the same time not upsetting the preset internal temperature and humidity settings inside the hatcher (10). This is done by gradually increasing the hatcher hallway room (24) temperature, humidity and air pressure at predetermined times to predetermined settings during the final 24 hours of the three day hatch cycle, which causes the damper door (22) on top of the hatcher (10) to open and stay open, thereby allowing a greater volume of fresh air to be forced into the hatcher (10). Due to the increased air pressure, excess carbon dioxide is exhausted out the back of the hatcher (10) through the exhaust vents (18) dropping the carbon dioxide level to the lowest level possible to benefit newly hatch chicks.