Patent ID: 9572326
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: A01K

Claim:
1. A poultry feeder with beak growth control device comprising: a feeder pan having a bowl portion configured for holding feed; a feeder tower positioned above the feeder pan and operable to receive and dispense feed into the feeder pan, the feeder tower having a bottom edge along its bottom end and configured to be raised and lowered between a raised position and a lowered position with respect to the feeder pan, wherein the raised position defining an open dispensing position for the poultry feeder and the lowered position defining a closed position for the poultry feeder; and a beak grooming ring having a concave bowl section and an outer surface, the beak grooming ring being a structure separate from the feeder tower and removably inserted in the poultry feeder and having an annular shape configured complementary to a corresponding shape of the feeder pan, the beak grooming ring fitting over and engaging the feeder pan, wherein the concave bowl section of the beak grooming ring engaging and covering the bowl portion of the feeder pan; wherein the complementary shapes of the beak grooming ring and the feeder pan hold the beak grooming ring in position on the feeder pan; wherein when the poultry feeder is in the closed position, the bottom edge of the feeder tower is seated and in contact with the beak grooming ring in the concave bowl section of the beak grooming ring thus containing the feed in the feeder tower and preventing the feed from flowing out of the feeder tower; and when the poultry feeder is in the open dispensing position, the bottom edge of the feeder tower is separated from and not in contact with the concave bowl section of the beak grooming ring while the beak grooming ring remains engaging and covering the bowl portion of the feeder pan and the feed is free to flow from the feeder tower into the concave bowl section of the beak grooming ring.