Abstract: The present embodiments provide an aviary that includes a cage tower and an egg collector. A cover is positioned over the egg collector and includes an inner end and an outer end. A cover adjustment member is coupled to the cover to reversibly raise one of the inner end and the outer end to a higher position than the other of the inner end and the outer end to facilitate movement of a deposit disposed on the cover toward the lower positioned end. The present embodiments also provide a method of operating an adjustable balcony in an aviary, which aviary includes a cage tower, an egg collector, a cover including an inner end and an outer end, and a deposit. The method includes disposing the cage tower in the aviary, disposing the egg collector on the cage tower, disposing the cover above the egg collector, and disposing the deposit on the cover.

Abstract: An aviary is provided, wherein the aviary includes a cage tower including an outside surface. An egg collector extends from the outside surface of the cage tower. A cover is positioned over the egg collector. A perch is positioned adjacent to the egg collector so that a gap is formed between the perch and the cover. The gap is sized to prevent eggs from rolling between the perch and the cover.

Abstract: A cage free nest has nest bottoms that have raised/rounded portions proximate to the entranceways into the cage free nest. A ramp extends from a surface to connect to the nest bottoms proximate to the entranceway. Both the nest bottoms and the ramp are formed of a non-slip, woven galvanized steel wire. The cage free nest also has upper and lower top panels that make up a roof assembly of the cage free nest. The lower top panels can be moved relative to the upper top panels to an opened/raised position by a cable assembly to allow for visual inspection into the cage free nest through the entranceways. The upper top panels can be moved relative to the lower top panels to an opened/raised position to allow for visual inspection into the cage free nest through the roof assembly.

Abstract: A laying nest arrangement for poultry comprises at least one housing with housing walls having at least one passage opening for the poultry, and at least one housing floor. A transporting device for laid eggs is guided along an edge of the housing floor. The housing floor has a downward inclination in the direction of the transporting device. The housing floor is formed by at least two floor plates that can be swiveled in relation to each other about a swiveling axis aligned in parallel with the longitudinal expanse of the transporting device, and which extends in the plane of the housing floor. There is a swiveling element by which each floor plate can be swiveled separately.

Abstract: A nest pad for poultry and animals is provided having a plurality of inclined projections extending from its lower surface to register with openings in the support surface of the nest enclosure and removably engage a portion of the support surface via a clamping fit. The inclined projections are arranged in at least two sets, and the direction of inclination of the projections of each such set is opposing and outwardly directed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for preventing a second egg from directly contacting a first egg when the second egg exits a cage travelling in a first direction through a cage opening onto a conveyor belt travelling in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction from an upstream side to a downstream side of the cage opening. The apparatus comprises a contact strip, the contact strip having a proximal end and a distal end and being made of a flexible material, and means for attaching the proximal end to the cage near the cage opening on the upstream side thereof such that the distal end of the contact strip is disposed on the conveyor belt opposite the downstream side of the cage opening whereby the contact strip extends across the cage opening to prevent the second egg from directly contacting the first egg.