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: An endless conveyor system is provided, particularly for poultry feeding systems, having a single strand wire core coated by a plastic material with integrally formed disks along the length of the wire to engage and transport fluidized or granular material. The disks have projections on their periphery to reduce sliding friction in the channel or trough of usage. A chain drive arrangement is provided to supply linear motive force to the conveyor by simultaneously engaging a plurality of the disks along the same line of travel. A feed input agitator is provided which is driven by conveyor motion. The conveyor can include a shear pin connection at the wire ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided wherein poultry nest pads are moved on a conveyor between a plurality of cleaning stations, involving first bending the pads prior to wetting in order to separate debris and dried manure by cracking and breaking from the projections of the pad and to further expose the internal pad recesses, then spraying the pads with a cleaning fluid at high pressure in a wiping motion across the bent pad, and then spraying with a sheet of cleaning fluid at low pressure across the top and bottom surfaces of the pad while it is in an inverted orientation over a tank or receptacle for receiving the debris, manure and spent cleaning fluid. That receptacle includes an auger for removing the settled manure and debris. A filtering and recirculation system is incorporated with the receptacle for reusing at least a portion of the spent cleaning fluid.

Abstract: An abrasive surface is provided on the feeding surface of a bird feeder pan. Thus as the birds eat, their beaks are abraded and trimmed. This controls the growth simultaneously with feeding the birds. The abrasive surface includes abrasive particles bonded to the feeding surface directly or may be bonded to the carrier which is adhered to the feeding surface.

Abstract: A feeder having a drop tube threadably received in a central bore of a grillwork to adjust the height of the drop tube. A unique lock is provided for the height adjustment and to prevent movement of the drop tube with respect to a conveyor to which it is mounted. A split collar mounts the drop tube to the conveyor and is disassembled along the axis of the conveyor without implements. The grillworks mount the drop tube to a pan by a split circumferential flange which requires radial and axial initial forces for removal.