Abstract: An apparatus for gravity fed animal feeder forms from a mold that combines a storage compartment that protects feed. The feed is entered into the storage compartment through a top opening. The storage compartment is connected with a food trough that allows feed to refill once the feed is removed. An upper attachment and a lower attachment attach the storage compartment with existing tree of pole. An upper mounting bracket in the upper attachment is larger than a lower mounting bracket in the lower attachment allowing the feed to easily flow towards a side opening of the storage compartment. Attaching straps are connected to the upper mounting bracket and to the lower mounting bracket by strap connecters. A lid is attached around the top opening and secured to the storage compartment by a locking mechanism. The apparatus can be placed at ground level or at an elevated level.

Abstract: An animal feeder includes an open ended food container that is hinge mounted at a normal inclined position on a ground support. The container pivots upwardly about a fixed horizontal transverse axis when the animal tries to remove the container from the support. This unnatural, upwardly pivoting movement discourages further attempts to remove the feeder, and the animal, thus discouraged, continues to feed at the site.

Abstract: A deer feeder for holding a food container such as a jar of peanut butter. The deer feeder includes a support structure that extends upwardly from the ground and a food container holder, in the form of a sleeve, mounted to an upper portion of the support. The food container holder includes a pair of stops with at least one of the stops being movable between first and second positions. When the food container is opened and placed within the food container holder, the stops engage the food container and prevent the food container from falling from the food container holder or from being pushed from the food container holder.

Abstract: A livestock feeder particularly suited as a horse feeder. This feeder has a grille on a front face and hangs on an outside of an enclosure with the front face resting on horizontal bars of the enclosure. The animal is able to pull feed through the vertically disposed grille on the front face. With the feeder on the outside of the enclosure, it is easily accessible for cleaning, filling with feed, or relocation while providing safe access on the outside of the enclosure. The feeder also allows a horse to eat at a natural gazing position by having a lower portion of the grille located near the ground. By providing feed at a natural grazing position, the feeder prevents gorging, boredom and waste while allowing the horse to feed with its head lower than its heart.

Abstract: A modular pole system for birding includes different modules to allow the birder to custom design their birding pole to include a variety of birding accessories such as bird feeders, bird houses, artificial and natural perches and bird baths. The modules include (i) pole modules to secure the modular pole system to the ground and/or increase the overall length of the modular pole system, (ii) attachment modules to removably attach accessories to the pole modules, and (iii) cap modules that can be removably attached to pole modules to inhibit rain water from entering the inside of the pole modules. In particular, an auger pole module of the modular pole system is used in conjunction with a stabilizing pole attachment module to resist the adverse effects of wind. The auger module has an auger member fixedly and spirally secured thereto that facilitates the insertion of the auger module into the ground. The stabilizing module has a plurality of arms which distribute the force from the wind over a wider area.

Abstract: A bird perch, feeder, and bath having a base, a pole, a feeder, a perch bar, and a catch pan. The catch pan is centrally positioned below the feeder and perch bar in order to minimize the amount of bird feed, bird waste and other materials dropping from the feeder or the perch bar to the area underneath the bird perch, feeder, and bath. The feeder and the perch bar may be selected in various sizes to accommodate different-sized birds. The catch pan is adjusted to a distance from the feeder and perch bar to ensure that the catch pan collects the maximum amount of bird feed, waste, or other materials. The feeder can be sized so that it can be used as a bath for a bird rather than a feeder.

Abstract: A layer flock management system including a layer information accumulator operative to accumulate information regarding each of a multiplicity of layers in a flock and a floor layer identifier operative to identify floor layers from among the multiplicity of layers.

Abstract: A multi-site in ovo injection apparatus and related methods for treating live eggs is disclosed. The multi-site injection apparatus includes one or more injection delivery devices which are configured to deliver multiple treatment substances to predetermined areas of eggs. The treatment substances can be provided so that they are spatially and/or temporally separate. The devices and methods enable the effective use of a plurality of treatment substances even those that are effective when used alone but can be noxious if mixed.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and products are disclosed in which an egg is noninvasively infused with oxygen such that the structural integrity of the shell of the egg is not compromised. The method comprises the step of subjecting the external surface of the egg shell to the oxygen under a condition of at least one of vacuum and positive pressure. The oxygen is from a substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nascent oxygen, liquid oxygen, oxone, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium permanganate.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and products are disclosed in which an egg is non-invasively infused with oxygen such that the structural integrity of the shell of the egg is not compromised. The method comprises the step of subjecting the external surface of the egg shell to the oxygen under a condition of at least one of vacuum and positive pressure. The oxygen is from a substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nascent oxygen, liquid oxygen, oxone, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium permanganate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for controlling microorganisms on a surface in a hatchery. The present invention is also directed to a system and method for controlling microorganisms on the surface of eggs. The present invention is further directed to a method for reducing the level of pathogen infection in a poultry flock.

Abstract: A method and products are disclosed in which a fertilized egg is non-invasively infused with oxygen such that the structural integrity of the shell of the egg is not compromised. The method comprises the step of subjecting the external surface of the eggshell to the oxygen under a condition of at least one of vacuum and positive pressure. The oxygen is from a substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nascent oxygen, liquid oxygen, oxone, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium permanganate.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for manipulating the contents of eggs. An opening is made in the egg shell, without breaking the underlying egg shell membrane, and an aqueous liquid is deposited over the opening such that the opening is completely covered. The underlying egg shell membrane is then cut away. The introduction of air bubbles into the interior of the egg upon cutting of the underlying egg shell membrane is prevented by the drawing of the aqueous liquid into the opening. A desired solution may be microinjected through the opening and the opening sealed.

Abstract: Eggs that affect lipid and cholesterol levels obtained from avian species that are hyperimmunized against a variety of bacterial antigens are disclosed. These eggs are useful as a dietary supplement for humans and other animals.

Abstract: Avian diseases, particularly those which threaten birds early in life, are controlled by embryonal vaccination using water-in-oil-in-water emulsion vaccines. The site of inoculation is the albumin end of the egg via entry through the air cell end of the egg.

Abstract: A method has been developed for the injection of muscle tissue of an embryonic chicken in ovo. An apparatus for such injection in a plurality of eggs simultaneously has also been developed, where the apparatus is composed of a an engaging means for the eggs, an injection means to insert an elongate needle through the eggshell to a depth of about 7/8 inch to 1.5 inch into the shoulder or breast of the embryo, and a positioning means to position the needle about 1 to 5 degrees of offset of the long axis of the egg. The apparatus can delivery a variety of substances to the muscle tissue of the embryonic chicken in ovo.

Abstract: Method of improving the quality of an egg from a female adult fowl comprising adding an effective egg improving amount of at least one tea polyphenol to a feed composition for the fowl and administering the composition to the fowl. Eggs produced by such method have a reduced crude fat content, a reduced peroxide content, an enhanced Haugh Unit value, an enhanced degree of transparency of egg white, an enhanced foam-forming ability and a pure white color in foam and egg white when the eggs are cooked. Also provided is an improved feed composition for improving the quality of an egg from a female adult fowl, wherein the improvement comprises the feed composition containing an effective egg improving amount of at least one tea polyphenol.

Abstract: To reduce the level of contamination of processed poultry, pathogen-free or nearly pathogen-free birds must be delivered to the processing plant. Therefore, it is important to prevent and/or reduce early contamination and spread of Salmonella in poultry. An in ovo method of treatment with a defined microbial preparation and an antibiotic to reduce colonization of newly hatched chicks by enteropathogenic microorganisms is described.

Abstract: A method of introducing a beneficial material into the allantois of an avian egg through the shell thereof comprises the steps of orienting the egg to maximize a target area of the allantoic sac and directing the injection device through the shell and into the target area. The egg may be oriented with a major axis at an angle from about 10 to 45 degrees from vertical thereby causing the allantois to pool and the allantoic sac to expand immediately below the air sac on the downward side of the egg with injection occurring vertically downward through the air sac or from an angle below the air sac. Alternatively, the egg may be vertically inverted with the large end of the egg in the bottom position thereby causing the allantois to pool immediately above the air sac with injection occurring upwardly through the air sac or laterally between the air sac and the amnion. The beneficial material may be an anti-bacteria, anti-viral, anti-microbial, vaccine, growth hormone or the like.

Abstract: A method of combatting microbial infections, including Escherichia coli and Salmonella infections, in immature birds by in ovo administration of an immune lymphokine (ILK) containing preparation in an amount effective to combat microbial infections in immature birds. A method of combatting microbial infections in immature birds by upregulating the production of endogenous Interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the bird. A method of combatting microbial infections in immature birds by in ovo administration of immune lymphokine (ILK).

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and products in which an egg is non-invasively infused with oxygen such that the structural integrity of the shell of the egg is not compromised. The method comprises the step of subjecting the external surface of the egg shell to the oxygen under a condition of at least one of vacuum and positive pressure. The oxygen is from a substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nascent oxygen, liquid oxygen, oxone, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium permanganate.

Abstract: A method of hatching eggs of avian species, especially chickens, which comprises carrying out at least one cycle of steps (a) and (c) as follows: (a) incubating the eggs in a first, baseline ambient environment which is normal for hatchery incubation of the eggs of the avian species in the prevailing climatic conditions and then during a sex-sensitive time window of embryonic development, (b) altering the ambient environment to shifted conditions for a period of time effective to bias the normal phenotypic sex ratio of the embryos, without significant adverse effect on the average mortality rate, and (c) thereafter restoring the incubation conditions to or towards normal and allowing the eggs to hatch. Preferably the ambient environment comprises a temperature of 37.5.degree.-38.degree. C. and the shifted conditions comprise reduced temperature, especially a temperature maintained at about 22.degree. C. for a period of from 18 to 42 hours.

Abstract: Reduced cholesterol, low fat eggs are obtained. At least a twenty-five percent reduction in cholesterol is achieved over normal levels for the grade size. The reduction can be achieved by weight monitoring of the egg, size monitoring of the yolk through candling, and selecting eggs from high producing, young, and high clutch chickens.

Abstract: A method and products are disclosed in which a fertilized egg is non-invasively infused with oxygen such that the structural integrity of the shell of the egg is not compromised. The method comprises the step of subjecting the external surface of the eggshell to the oxygen under a condition of at least one of vacuum and positive pressure. The oxygen is from a substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nascent oxygen, liquid oxygen, oxone, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium permanganate.

Abstract: A method of establishing direct feed microorganisms such as Lactobacillus reuteri in the gastrointestinal tract of avian organisms in which eggs are inoculated with living cells of the microorganism.

Abstract: An apparatus for administering compounds to avian eggs through the shell thereof comprises a blocking member, an elongate shaft connected to the blocking member, an active agent depot connected to the elongate shaft, and an adhesive seal connected to the blocking member for sealably connecting the blocking member to the egg shell with the shaft penetrating through the shell. Methods of using the apparatus of the present invention are also described.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for sex determination in ratites, such as ostriches. The method includes the steps of administering a material that causes sex to be determined to a fertilized ratite egg and incubating the egg until it hatches. Preferably, the administering step includes the step of injecting the material into the egg and preferably before the injecting step, there is the step of drilling a hole into the eggshell of the egg. The material that determines sex in ratites includes natural estrogens or a functionally equivalent amount of its synthetic mimics to cause female development and natural nonaromatizable androgens or a functionally equivalent amount of its synthetic mimics to cause male development. Preferably, the material is estradiol-17beta (for female development) or dihydrotestosterone (for male development). A solution may, for example, be comprised of 1.2 milligrams of estradiol-17beta preferably dissolved in 40 microliters of 95% ethanol, or 7.

Abstract: A method of introducing a substance into a bird egg through the shell thereof comprises the steps of applying a seal to the exterior of the shell, inserting an injection device through the seal and into the egg, injecting the substance through the injection device and into the interior of the egg, and withdrawing the injection device from the egg through the seal. The method is particularly preferred for injecting substances into the albumin during the first quarter of injection through the bottom of the egg when the small end of the egg is oriented downward to prevent the introduction of air bubbles through the opening formed in the shell by the injection device.

Abstract: A novel single stage culture system for avian embryos is disclosed. Premature eggs consisting of about 32 to about 100 cells are collected shortly after ovulation and prepared for culture. The eggs are incubated in a potassium rich bicarbonate solution and the contents of the eggs are transferred to recipient eggshells. The open end of the eggshell is closed and the embryos are turned and incubated in an oxygen enriched atmosphere for about 3-4 days. For the final incubation period the eggs are incubated in an upright position and rocked hourly.

Abstract: Apparatus for operating needle to inoculate the web of a bird's wing. An arm rocks a needle holder back and forth between a serum container and web positioner, along a path which causes the needle holder to move substantially vertically into and out of the container and web positioner. Gears cause the needle holder to pivot on the arm in response to pivotal movement of the arm, so that the needle points downwardly throughout its movement.

Abstract: Anti-cholesterolemic eggs are disclosed, said eggs being obtained from animals hyperimmunized against at least one anti-cholesterolemic antigen. A vaccine producing said anti-cholesterolemic egg is disclosed, said vaccine comprising at least one anti-cholesterolemic antigen. Further, a dietary supplement for humans and other animals which does not elevate serum lipid concentrations is disclosed, said supplement comprising the anti-cholesterolemic eggs or fractions thereof. A method for treating vascular disorders in humans and other animals is also disclosed which comprises administering to said subjects said anti-cholesterolemic eggs for a time and in amounts sufficient to produce anti-arteriosclerotic effects, anti-aging vascular effects, and/or serum lipid-lowering effects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing probiotic bacteria into the digestive tract of a bird in order to exclude undesirable bacteria therefrom, and inoculated eggs produced thereby, are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fertile bird egg is administered a Salmonella competitive exclusion culture. The culture is preferably administered into the air cell of the egg in an amount effective to colonize the digestive tract of the embryonic bird contained within the egg, and the culture preferably comprises at least one anaerobic bacteria of intestinal origin.

Abstract: A sterilizing fluid passageway is defined by the annular space between a cylindrical injection needle and a surrounding cylindrical punch. A sterilizing fluid entry fitting allows the sterilizing fluid to be added to the passageway. In this manner, it will be understood that sterilizing fluid entering a fitting will travel through the passageway to clean the interior of a punch and an exterior of the needle. As an additional feature, however, the invention further comprises fluid exit openings that are adjacent to and partially above the lowermost portions of the punch, i.e., those portions that are most likely to enter an egg during injection. The openings permit a sterilizing fluid to travel from the entry fitting through the passageway and then to the exterior surface of the punch so that the sterilizing fluid sterilizes the passageway, the needle and both the interior and exterior portions of the punch that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.

Abstract: An egg injection machine, beneficial injectable formulations for increasing the hatchability of avian hatchery eggs, and an improved method for the control of contamination in the injection process are provided. A novel ethanol-based contamination control carrier solution allows beneficial vaccines, vitamins, nutrients, and trace minerals to be injected into fertile eggs without risk of contamination of the eggs by machine, solution, or egg-to-egg cross-contamination by the injection needle. The invention is useful in both the chicken and turkey hatchery industry for egg injections prior to incubator setting or during transfer to hatch bins. Hatch improvements of +2.29 percent to +5.33 percent are shown for varying conditions. A method for facilitating the injections of virus vaccines is disclosed.

Abstract: An injection apparatus that is particularly suitable for accurate and precise injection of eggs of varying sizes and that may be presented to the injection apparatus in somewhat different orientations. The injection apparatus comprises a generally horizontally oriented tooling plate with an opening therethrough, an injector resting generally vertically in the opening in the tooling plate with a lower portion of the injector depending downwardly below the tooling plate and an upper portion of the injector resting at or above the tooling plate. Means are included for raising and lowering the tooling plate and the injector therewith so that when the plate is lowered and the lower portion of the resting injector strikes an egg to be injected, the resting injector stops while the tooling plate proceeds downwardly until the injector disengages from the tooling plate and is free to move in a translational direction independent of said tooling plate.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for automatically injecting eggs with a desired fluid such as a medical vaccine. The inventon eliminates the pumping of fluids through conventional fluid handling systems and thereby increases the accuracy and precision of volume delivery while eliminating such of the possiblity of contamination of the fluid and the system.

Abstract: Chickens are fed a composition including fish oil over a period of time. Modified eggs laid by such chickens contain substantial quantities of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The modified eggs are fed to humans with the result that serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and blood pressure are reduced as compared to humans eating a like number of regular eggs with a subsequent decrease in heart disease.

Abstract: Avian embryos may be cultured in vitro up to blastoderm formation, during embryonic morphogenesis and/or during embryonic growth to hatch. The invention may have applications not only in the genetic engineering of poultry, but also in the investigation of fundamental mechanisms of avian development and in the study of deleterious traits. Moreover, it may afford a desirable alternative to surgical intervention in the laying hen.

Abstract: The hatchability of fertile turkey eggs is increased by injection of the eggs with an effective amount of exogenous pyridoxine. The eggs are preferably injected between the outer and inner membranes following up to 25 days of incubation. Hatchability increases up to 5% have been observed.

Abstract: A sterilizing fluid passageway is defined by the annular space between a cylindrical injection needle and a surrounding cylindrical punch. A sterilizing fluid entry fitting allows the sterilizing fluid to be added to the passageway. In this manner, it will be understood that sterilizing fluid entering a fitting will travel through the passageway to clean the interior of a punch and an exterior of the needle. As an additional feature, however, the invention further comprises fluid exit openings that are adjacent to and partially above the lowermost portions of the punch, i.e., those portions that are most likely to enter an egg during injection. The openings permit a sterilizing fluid to travel from the entry fitting through the passageway and then to the exterior surface of the punch so that the sterilizing fluid sterilizes the passageway, the needle and both the interior and exterior portions of the punch that are most likely to enter an egg during injection.