Abstract:
A feeder assembly includes a pan member and a drop tube assembly operatively associated with the pan member for providing feed to the pan member. The pan member has a base portion and an upstanding portion. The upstanding portion has a top surface which varies in vertical height relative to the base portion of the pan member without adjusting the feeder assembly. The upstanding portion also has an outward side surface which varies in radial distance relative to a center of said pan member. The varying top and outward side surfaces may also alternatively be provided for on a rim member which surrounds and is secured to the pan member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
       [0001]     This patent application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/455,054, filed on Jun. 5, 2003, and entitled “Poultry Feeder” which, in turn, claims the benefit of domestic priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/391,731, filed Jun. 26, 2002, and entitled “Poultry Feeder”. Each of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/455,054 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/391,731 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to animal feeding systems and, more particularly, relates to feeder assemblies for poultry and the like.  
         [0003]     Automated feeding systems for poultry and like domestic animals have proved highly successful in modern animal husbandry operations. These systems can supply feed mixtures to a large poultry flock with minimum effort by the poultry grower. Both the amounts of feed delivered and the proportions of feed ingredients can be regulated, thus permitting the flock to be inexpensively raised from chicks to mature, commercially valuable birds in a relatively short time.  
         [0004]     Among the important parts of such automated feeding systems are the feeder assemblies. These assemblies receive feed flow from a feed conveyor, and are located on or near the poultry house floor to afford the birds ready access to the feed. Among the patents disclosing such feeder assemblies are, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,388,690, 3,511,215, 3,811,412, 3,911,868, 4,070,990, 4,476,811, 4,834,026, 4,995,343, 5,092,274, 5,941,193 and 6,173,676.  
         [0005]     Early poultry growers traditionally introduced very young birds into poultry houses and provided supplemental feed to the young birds or chicks on paper, cardboard or the like, which was laid on the poultry house floor. The chicks were not initially introduced to feeding from feeder assemblies for two main reasons. One reason was that chicks were unable to gain access to the feed in the feeder assemblies because the height of the feeder assemblies from where the birds would gain access to the feed was too high for the chicks. Another reason was that the feed which was introduced into the feeder assembly was always provided on the bottom of a pan of the feeder assembly such that even if the young birds could reach over the height of the side of the feeder assembly, the birds could not then reach down to eat the feed at the bottom of the feeder assembly. Thus, the poultry grower provided supplemental feed to the chicks either by providing the supplemental feed to the chicks outside of the feeder assemblies or by hand filling the supplemental feed into the feeder assemblies to provide a high feed level.  
         [0006]     Problems, however, arose with such practice. Among these problems, obviously, was that such a practice required more time and labor by the poultry grower which could be better utilized elsewhere. Also, the feed provided on the floor of the poultry house came into contact with waste, dirt, etc., which the birds would also then eat, potentially causing health problems for the birds. Further, the birds raked the feed with their feet such that the feed became spread out over the poultry house floor, such that a fair amount of the feed placed on the floor by the poultry grower was wasted.  
         [0007]     Thus, many prior art feeders were designed to help combat these problems. For instance, the feeder assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,311,839, 5,462,017 and 5,718,187 attempted to solve the problem of the height of the feeder assemblies being too high such that smaller birds could not gain access to or see the feed presented in the feeder assembly to eat it, thus requiring the poultry growers to either utilize the supplemental feed, as discussed above or provide separate feeder assemblies in which the smaller birds would be able to feed from. These feeder assemblies utilized a lost motion connection between the grill and the pan to provide both a shallow pan depth for younger, smaller birds and a deep pan depth for older, larger birds. The problem with the lost motion connection for the poultry grower is that in order to utilize the lost motion connection, the feeder assemblies had to be raised off of or lowered onto the poultry house floor. For instance, the feeder assemblies could not be lowered from the deep pan depth to the shallow pan depth without a bottom of the pan resting on the poultry house floor. As the floors of poultry houses are often uneven, the feeder assemblies could not all be consistently configured in the same manner when the feeder assemblies were positioned on the floor of the poultry house.  
         [0008]     Other designs like the feeder assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,811 and 5,092,274 also attempted to solve the problem of the feed being presented to younger, smaller birds at too low of a level within the feeder assemblies. The feeder assemblies provided both an upper or “brood” feed gate to provide high feed levels for younger, smaller birds and a lower feed gate to provide lower feed levels for older, larger birds. The upper feed gate was provided as a window in the feed drop tube of the feeder assembly, which, when open, would allow feed to flow therethrough to create a high feed level in the feeder assembly for the young birds to easily see and eat. When the birds grew older and larger, the poultry grower could close the upper feed gate and allow the feed to flow through the bottom of the feed drop tube, i.e., the lower feed gate, to provide a lower feed level.  
         [0009]     These feeder assemblies, while highly successful in industry, do, however, have some disadvantages to them. For example, in these inventions, the upper and lower feed gates are typically not both able to be open if the poultry grower should so desire them to be. Also, the feed gates are typically only opened and closed by moving the feeder assemblies on and off of the ground. Finally, these feeder assemblies did not provide for a smooth transition from a high feed level to a low feed level; as a practical matter the poultry grower could only provide a high feed level or a low feed level, but nothing in between.  
         [0010]     Feeder assemblies of the prior art have also caused other problems for the poultry grower. For example, when birds grow larger, the birds typically like to eat from the feeder assemblies by resting a front side of their bodies on or against the feeder assembly in some manner. As feeder assemblies of the prior art have not typically been designed with the comfort and health of the birds in mind, the birds tend to eat from the feeder assemblies while being uncomfortable. In many prior art feeder assemblies, when birds rest on or against the feeder assemblies, detrimental physical effects, such as bruising, blistering, irritation, etc., to the front sides of the bird&#39;s bodies, such as their breasts, may occur. Such detrimental physical effects can cause two major problems. One is that since the front sides of the birds&#39; bodies will become detrimentally physically effected, the birds will not be comfortable resting on or against the feeder assemblies, such that the birds may not eat as much food from the feeder assemblies as it is too uncomfortable for them to do so. Thus, the birds either do not become as large and are not as commercially valuable as they could have been, or the rate at which the birds grow is reduced, thus taking longer for them to reach their optimal size and weight. Secondly, once the birds are defeathered and graded, if the front sides of bird&#39;s bodies are detrimentally physically effected, the birds will receive a lower grade, thus making them less commercially valuable.  
         [0011]     Therefore, an improved feeder assembly is needed which will overcome the problems and disadvantages of prior art feeder assemblies. The present invention provides such a feeder assembly. Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading of the attached specification, in combination with a study of the drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     Briefly, the invention provides a feeder assembly which is adapted to be attached to a feed supply conduit of a feeder system. Three embodiments of the feeder assembly are provided.  
         [0013]     The first embodiment of the feeder assembly generally includes a pan member, a grill member, an outer drop tube member, an inner drop tube member, and an inner drop tube actuator.  
         [0014]     The outer drop tube member hangs from the feed supply conduit of the feeder system by a member which wraps around the feed supply conduit. The inner drop tube member is positioned within and supported by the outer drop tube member. Both the inner and outer drop tube members have windows or apertures therethrough. An extension of the inner drop tube member extends through an opening at a top of the outer drop tube member such that it can be connected to the inner drop tube actuator. When the inner drop tube actuator is moved, the inner drop tube member is rotated within the outer drop tube member such that an upper feed gate can be opened, by alignment of the windows, or closed, by disalignment of the windows.  
         [0015]     The grill member is rotatably connected to the outer drop tube member by helical threads on both the grill member and the outer drop tube member, which allow a lower feed gate of the feeder assembly to be raised or lowered relative to the pan member.  
         [0016]     A rim member of the grill member is connected to an upstanding outer portion of the pan member with an upstanding inner portion of the pan member extending within the inner drop tube member. The pan member has a base portion between the upstanding outer and inner portions for presenting feed. The upstanding inner portion of the pan member helps promote high feed levels out of the upper feed gate.  
         [0017]     The outer drop tube member has wing portions extending from a bottom thereof which can be positioned above the base portion of the pan member to ensure that the lower feed gate of the feeder assembly is always partially open such that some feed can flow therethrough.  
         [0018]     The grill member is configured such that birds which lean on or against the rim and spoke members of the grill member to eat feed presented in the pan member will not be detrimentally physically effected, or the detrimental physical effects will, at a minimum, be decreased. The birds will also be comfortable leaning against the rim and spoke members such that feeding is promoted.  
         [0019]     The rim member of the grill member also is configured such that a shallow pan depth is provided for smaller birds while a deep pan depth is provided for larger birds. The shallow and deep pan depths are provided without the need to adjust any portion of the feeder assembly.  
         [0020]     The second embodiment of the feeder assembly removes the inner drop tube member and the inner drop tube actuator, and removes the windows from the outer drop tube member such that feed supplied to the feeder assembly is forced to flow through only the lower feed gate.  
         [0021]     The third embodiment of the feeder assembly removes the grill member such that only the pan member is provided, with the pan member being configured similar to the rim member of the grill member in the first and second embodiments of the feeder assembly, such that when birds which lean on or against the pan member to eat feed presented therein will not be detrimentally physically effected.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are described in detail hereinbelow. The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a feeder assembly of the invention having a first inner drop tube actuator;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention having a second inner drop tube actuator;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of  FIG. 4 , taken along line  5 - 5 , with the second inner drop tube actuator being shown in side elevational view;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a pan member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the pan member of  FIG. 6  taken along line  7 - 7 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the pan member of  FIG. 6  taken along line  8 - 8 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a side-elevational view of the pan member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 10  is a side-elevational view of the pan member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention which is rotated  30  degrees in relation to  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the pan member of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the pan member of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0035]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view of a portion of the pan member of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 14  is a side-elevational view of a portion of the pan member of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a grill member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the grill member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the grill member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the grill member of  FIG. 16  taken along line  18 - 18 ;  
         [0041]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the grill member of  FIG. 16  taken along line  19 - 19 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 20  is a side elevational view of the grill member of the first embodiment the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a portion of the grill member of  FIG. 16  taken along line  21 - 21 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 22  is a side elevational view of a portion of the grill member of  FIG. 16 ;  
         [0045]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an outer drop tube member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0046]      FIG. 24  is a top plan view of the outer drop tube member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0047]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the outer drop tube member of  FIG. 24  taken along line  25 - 25 ;  
         [0048]      FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the outer drop tube member of  FIG. 24  taken along line  26 - 26 ;  
         [0049]      FIG. 27  is a side elevational view of the outer drop tube member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0050]      FIG. 28  is a side elevational view of a portion of the outer drop tube member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0051]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of an inner drop tube member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0052]      FIG. 30  is a top plan view of the inner drop tube member of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0053]      FIG. 31  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the inner drop tube member of  FIG. 30  taken along line  31 - 31 ;  
         [0054]      FIG. 32  is a cross-sectional top plan view of the inner drop tube member of  FIG. 31  taken along line  32 - 32 ;  
         [0055]      FIG. 33  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the inner drop tube member of  FIG. 30  taken along line  33 - 33 ;  
         [0056]      5   FIG. 34  is a perspective view of the first inner drop tube member actuator of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0057]      FIG. 35  is a front elevational view of the first inner drop tube member actuator of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0058]      FIG. 36  is a top plan view of the first inner drop tube member actuator of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0059]      FIG. 37  is a bottom plan view of the first inner drop tube member actuator of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0060]      FIG. 38  is a top plan view of a portion of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention illustrating the second inner drop tube member actuator secured to the inner drop tube member;  
         [0061]      FIG. 39  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the second inner drop tube member actuator of  FIG. 38  taken along line  39 - 39 ;  
         [0062]      FIG. 40  is a side elevational view of a portion of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention illustrating a third inner drop tube member actuator secured to the inner drop tube member;  
         [0063]      FIG. 41  is a cross-sectional side-elevational view of the third inner drop tube member actuator of  FIG. 40  taken along line  41 - 41 ;  
         [0064]      FIG. 42  is a side elevational view of the third inner drop tube member actuator of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0065]      FIG. 43  is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention with a chick feeding therefrom and feed flowing through both a lower feed gate and an upper feed gate in a first position;  
         [0066]      FIG. 44  is a side-elevational view of a portion of the feeder assembly of  FIG. 43  illustrating the alignment of the windows of the inner and outer drop tube members relative to one another to define the upper feed gate in the first position;  
         [0067]      FIG. 45  is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention with a bird feeding therefrom and feed flowing through both a lower feed gate and an upper feed gate in a second position;  
         [0068]      FIG. 46  is a side-elevational view of a portion of the feeder assembly of  FIG. 45  illustrating the alignment of the windows of the inner and outer drop tube members relative to one another to define the upper feed gate in the second position;  
         [0069]      FIG. 47  is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention with a bird feeding therefrom and feed flowing through only a lower feed gate;  
         [0070]      FIG. 48  is a side-elevational view of a portion of the feeder assembly of  FIG. 47  illustrating the misalignment of the windows of the inner and outer drop tube members relative to one another;  
         [0071]      FIG. 49  is a partial top plan view of the first embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention with a bird feeding therefrom such that a front portion of the bird&#39;s body conforms to the rim member of the grill member of the feeder assembly;  
         [0072]      FIG. 50  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a second embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0073]      FIG. 51  is a perspective view of a drop tube member of the second embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0074]      FIG. 52  is a top plan view of the drop tube member of the second embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0075]      FIG. 53  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the drop tube member of  FIG. 52  taken along line  53 - 53 ;  
         [0076]      FIG. 54  is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the drop tube member of  FIG. 52  taken along line  54 - 54 ;  
         [0077]      FIG. 55  is a side elevational view of the drop tube member of the second embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0078]      FIG. 56  is a side elevational view of a portion of the drop tube member of the second embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0079]      FIG. 57  is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the second embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention with a bird feeding therefrom and feed flowing through a lower feed gate;  
         [0080]      FIG. 58  is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention;  
         [0081]      FIG. 59  is a top plan view of the third embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention; and  
         [0082]      FIG. 60  is a partial top plan view of the third embodiment of the feeder assembly of the invention with a bird feeding therefrom such that a front portion of the bird&#39;s body conforms to the rim member of the pan member of the feeder assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0083]     While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.  
         [0084]     A first embodiment of the feeder assembly  100  which incorporates features of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-49  with reference numerals being in the one, two, three, four and five hundreds. A second embodiment of the feeder assembly  600  which incorporates features of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 50-57  with reference numerals being in the six, seven and eight: hundreds. A third embodiment of the feeder assembly  900  which incorporates features of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 58-60  with reference numerals being in the nine and ten hundreds.  
       Structure of the Feeder Assembly  100   
       [0085]     Attention is invited to the first embodiment of the feeder assembly  100  which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-49 . The illustrated feeder assembly  100  desirably is adapted to be used in connection with a poultry feeder system that includes a feed supply conduit  102 . Desirably, the poultry feeder system includes a plurality of feeder assemblies  100 , which can be vertically adjusted to either rest on the ground or be suspended above the ground by raising or lowering the feed supply conduit  102  or by other suitable means. The feeder assemblies  100  are preferably utilized to feed all different types of birds including chickens, turkeys and ducks, from a time when the birds are very young until the birds are fully grown. It should be noted that other types of animals could also be fed with the feeder assemblies  100  of the invention.  
         [0086]     The illustrated feeder assembly  100  generally includes a pan member  104 , a grill member  106 , an outer drop tube member  108 , an inner drop tube member  110 , and an inner drop tube actuator  112 .  
       Pan Member  104   
       [0087]     Attention is now directed to the pan member  104 , which is best illustrated in  FIGS. 6-14 .  
         [0088]     The pan member  104 , in a preferred embodiment, is generally circular and includes an upstanding inner portion  114 , an upstanding outer portion  116 , and a base portion  118  which extends from a bottom end of the upstanding inner portion  114  to a bottom end of the upstanding outer portion  116 . The upstanding inner portion  114 , the upstanding outer portion  116  and the base portion  118  are preferably integrally formed and, working together, support and present feed that is supplied to the feeder assembly  100  by the feed supply conduit  102 . It should be noted that the configuration of the pan member  104  could be formed in a manner other than circular in order to achieve the objects of the invention. The bottom or outer surface  120  of the base portion  118  is capable of resting on a feeding surface of a poultry house, such as a floor or the ground.  
         [0089]     The upstanding inner portion  114  is generally formed of a first portion  122 , a second portion  124  and a third portion  126 . In a preferred embodiment, the first portion  122  extends downwardly and outwardly to an inner end of the base portion  118  at an angle A relative to a horizontal line L. The second portion  124  extends downwardly and outwardly to an end of the first portion  122  at an angle B relative to the horizontal line L. The third portion  126  extends downwardly and outwardly from a point  128  to an end of the second portion  124  at an angle C relative to the horizontal line L. The upstanding inner portion  114  is representative of a cone extending upwardly from the base portion  118 . Angle A is preferably smaller than angles B and C and angle C is preferably smaller than angle B. In a preferred embodiment, angle A is forty-five (45) degrees, angle B is eighty (80) degrees and angle C is fifty (50) degrees.  
         [0090]     The upstanding outer portion  116  is generally formed of a first portion  130 , a second portion  132 , a third portion  134 , and a fourth portion  136 . In a preferred embodiment, the first portion  130  extends downwardly and inwardly to an outer end of the base portion  118  at an angle D relative to the horizontal line L. The second portion  132  extends vertically downwardly to an end of the first portion  130 . The third portion  134  extends horizontally inwardly to an end of the second portion  132 . The fourth portion  136  extends vertically downwardly to an end of the third portion  134 . Angle D is preferably equivalent to angle A and, therefore, in the preferred embodiment, angle D is forty-five (45) degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the fourth portion  136  extends to a height that is less than a height to which the upper end of the second portion  124  of the upstanding inner portion  114  extends to and, therefore, the fourth portion  136  is positioned below the third portion  126  of the upstanding inner portion  114 .  
         [0091]     As best illustrated in FIGS.  6 ,  9 - 10  and  13 - 14 , the pan member  104  preferably further includes a plurality of elongated extensions  138  protruding from the outer surface  120  of the fourth portion  136  of the upstanding outer portion  116  thereof and extending lengthwise therealong. The extensions  138  are preferably integrally formed with the pan member  104 . In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of extensions  138  number six and are separated from their centers by sixty (60) degrees. Each extension  138  has a recess  140  provided therein which is capable of receiving a portion of the grill member  106 , as will be discussed hereinbelow, for locking the grill member  106  to the pan member  104 . Each extension  138  also has a downward vertical portion  142  at one end thereof which provides a stop to prevent excess rotation during the locking of the grill member  106  to the pan member  104 .  
         [0092]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 11 , the pan member  104  also preferably includes a hook member  144  which is typically S-shaped. A first portion  146  of the hook member  144  extends horizontally outwardly from the outer surface  120  of the fourth portion  136  of the upstanding outer portion  116 . The first portion  146  is positioned proximate to and below the end of one of the extensions  138 . A second portion  148  of the hook member  144  extends vertically downwardly from an end of the first portion  146  of the hook member  144  to approximately the same position as where the first portion  130  and the second portion  132  of the upstanding outer portion  116  meet. A third portion  150  of the hook member  144  extends horizontally outwardly from an end of the second portion  148  of the hook member  144 . The hook member  144  helps to suspend the pan member  104  from the grill member  106  for cleaning the feeder assembly  100 , as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.  
         [0093]     As best illustrated in FIGS.  7 ,  9 - 10  and  12 , the pan member  104  also preferably includes a plurality of tab members  152  protruding from the outer surface  120  of the upstanding outer portion  116 . The tab members  152  are preferably integrally formed with the pan member  104 . The tab members  152  protrude from the outer surface  120  of the first, second and third portions  130 ,  132 ,  134  of the upstanding outer portion  116 . In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of tab members  152  number six and are separated from their centers by sixty (60) degrees. Each tab member  152  is also preferably positioned equidistant from the centers of two of the extensions  138 . The tab members  152  assist in the packing of a plurality of the pan members  104 .  
       Grill Member  106   
       [0094]     Attention is now directed to the grill member  106 , which is best illustrated in  FIGS. 15-22 .  
         [0095]     The grill member  106  includes a rim member  154 , a plurality of spaced apart spoke members  156  and a collar member  158 . Each spoke member  156  is connected at one end thereof to the rim member  154  and at an opposite end thereof to the collar member  158 . The rim member  154 , the spoke members  156  and the collar member  158  are all preferably integrally formed.  
         [0096]     The rim member  154 , in a preferred embodiment, is generally circular, although the configuration of the rim member  154  could be formed in a manner other than circular in order to achieve the objects of the invention. A side rim portion  160  of the rim member  154  has an outer wall  162  and an inner wall  164 .  
         [0097]     The inner wall  164  has an inner surface  166  and an outer surface  168 . The inner wall  164  is preferably circular in configuration, but is commensurate in shape to the configuration of the rim member  154 . The inner wall  164  extends upwardly from a bottom surface  170  of the side rim portion  160  to a top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154 , which will be described herein. The bottom surface  170  of the side rim portion  160  is preferably planar. The inner surface  166  of the inner wall  164 , the top rim portion  210 , and a reinforcing member  240 , which will be discussed further herein, form a pocket  172  therebetween which is capable of accepting the fourth portion  136  of the upstanding outer portion  116  of the pan member  104  for connection of the pan member  104  to the grill member  106 , as will be discussed further herein.  
         [0098]     The outer wall  162  of the side rim portion  160  is formed from a plurality of projections  174 . In a preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with smaller birds, the plurality of projections  174  number twelve (12) and are spaced equidistantly apart from one another with a thirty (30) degree angle between the centers of the projections  174 . In another preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with larger birds, the plurality of projections  174  number eight (not shown) and are spaced equidistantly apart from one another with a forty-five (45) degree angle between the centers of the projections  174 .  
         [0099]     In a preferred embodiment, and as best illustrated in  FIGS. 15-17  and  20 , each projection  174  has a first concave portion  176  at one end thereof, a second concave portion  178  at an opposite end thereof, and a convex portion  180  between the first and second concave portions  176 ,  178 . On adjacent projections  174 , an end of the first concave portion  176  of one of the adjacent projections  174  preferably, but not necessarily, meets an end of the second concave portion  178  of the other one of the adjacent projections  174 , and also meet at the outer surface  168  of the inner wall  164  such that pockets  182  are formed between each projection  174  and the outer surface  168  of the inner wall  164 . Thus, the outer wall  162  of the side rim portion  160  is provided at varying radial distances from a center of the feeder assembly  100 .  
         [0100]     Also, in a preferred embodiment, and as best illustrated in  FIGS. 17-19 , a lower edge  184  of the each projection  174  is positioned in a horizontal plane, along with the bottom surface  170  of the side rim portion  160 , while an upper edge  186  of each projection  174  is formed of a first concave edge  188  at one end thereof, a second concave edge  190  at an opposite end thereof, and a convex edge  192  between the first and second concave edges  188 ,  190 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 20 . On adjacent projections  174 , an end of the first concave edge  188  of one of the adjacent projections  174  preferably, but not necessarily, meets an end of the second concave edge  190  of the other one of the adjacent projections  174 . Thus, the upper edge  186  of the projections  174  of the side rim portion  160  is provided at varying vertical distances from the lower edge  184  of each projection  174 . The first concave edge  188  is provided for at the upper edge  186  of the first concave portion  176 , the second concave edge  190  is provided for at the upper edge  186  of the second concave portion  178 , and the convex edge  192  is provided for at the upper edge  186  of the convex portion  180 .  
         [0101]     The side rim portion  160  further preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart, elongated reinforcing members  194  along the inner surface  166  of the inner wall  164 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 17, 19  and  21 . The reinforcing members  194  are preferably positioned lengthwise along the inner surface  166  proximate to the connection on the outer wall  162  to the inner wall  164 , namely at the connection of one of the first concave portions  176  to an adjacent second concave portion  178 . The reinforcing members  194  are also preferably situated proximate to, or along, the bottom surface  170  of the side rim portion  160 . In the preferred embodiment, the reinforcing members  194  number six (6) and are situated equidistantly from one another by sixty (60) degrees from their centers. Thus, the reinforcing members  194  are positioned on the inner surface  166  of the inner wall  164  proximate to the connection on the outer wall  162  of every other first and second concave portions  176 ,  178 .  
         [0102]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 21 , the side rim member  160  further preferably includes a tab member  196 . The tab member  196  is positioned between one of the first concave portions  176  and one of the second concave portions  178 , such that the first and second concave portions  176 ,  178  do not meet. The tab member  196  extends vertically downwardly from the upper edge  186  of the projections  174  to a position below the bottom surface  170  of the side rim member  160  and, thus, below the lower edge  184  of the projections  174 . The tab member  196  is separated from the first concave portion  176  by a gap  198  and is separated from the second concave portion  178  by a gap  200 . A bottom free end  202  of the tab member  196  is preferably rounded. The tab member  196  is preferably positioned such that it is proximate to one of the reinforcing members  194 . The reinforcing member  194  that is situated proximate to the tab member  196  does not extend over the gaps  198 ,  200 , but rather extends along the inner surface  166  of the inner wall  164  away from both of the gaps  198 ,  200  and extends along an inner surface  204  of the tab member  196 . The tab member  196  may also have a reinforcing member  206  extending inwardly from the inner surface  204  thereof. The tab member  196  works in conjunction with the extensions  138  to lock the grill member  106  into place around the pan member  104  as will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow.  
         [0103]     The side rim portion  160  further preferably includes a slot  208  therethrough, as shown in  FIG. 22 . The slot  208  is positioned through one of the first concave portions  176 , one of the second concave portions  178 , and through the inner wall  164 . The slot  208  is generally L-shaped such that the slot  208  has a height which is higher at one end thereof than at an opposite end thereof. The slot  208  at the higher end is positioned equidistantly from the bottom surface  170  of the side rim portion  160  as is the slot  208  at the lower end, but the slot  208  at the higher end is positioned closer to the upper edge  186  of the projections  174  than is the slot  208  at the lower end. The higher end of the slot  208  is preferably positioned on the first concave portion  176  while the lower end of the slot  208  is preferably positioned on the second concave portion  178 . The slot  208  is preferably positioned such that it is situated above one of the reinforcing members  194 . The slot  208  works in conjunction with the hook member  144  to suspend the pan member  104  from the grill member  106  for cleaning the feeder assembly  100 , as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.  
         [0104]     The rim member  154  in a preferred embodiment also has the top rim portion  210 . The top rim portion  210  has a top surface  212  which is defined between an outer edge  214  and an inner edge  216  of the top rim portion  210 . When viewed in a side-elevational view, as in  FIG. 20 , the top surface  212  appears to be provided in a series of curved peak portions  218  and curved valley portions  220  extending circumferentially around the top rim portion  210  with the spoke members  156  being attached to the top surface  212  of the top rim portion  210  at the peak portions  218  proximate to the inner edge  216  of the top surface  212 , such that the valley portions  220  are provided between the attachment of the spoke members  156  to the rim member  154 . The peak portions  218  and valley portions  220  are formed because, between a pair of adjacent spoke members  156 , the inner edge  216  of the top surface  212  curves circumferentially downwardly from one of the spoke members  156  to a point which is equidistant between the one spoke member  156  and the adjacent spoke member  156 , and then curves circumferentially upwardly to the adjacent spoke member  156 . Similarly, the peak portions  218  and the valley portions  220  are formed because, between a pair of adjacent spoke members  156 , the outer edge  214  of the top surface  212  curves circumferentially downwardly proximate to one of the spoke members  156  to a point which is equidistant between the one spoke member  156  and the adjacent spoke member  156  and then curves circumferentially upwardly proximate to the adjacent spoke member  156 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, and preferably for use with smaller birds, the top surface  212  of the top rim portion  210  has twelve (12) peak portions  218  and twelve (12) valley portions  220 , which are alternated around the circumference of the rim member  154  such that a thirty (30) degree angle is provided between the centers thereof. In another preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with larger birds, the top surface  212  of the top rim portion  210  has eight (8) peak portions  218  and eight (8) valley portions  220  (not shown), which are alternated around the circumference of the rim member  154  such that a forty-five (45) degree angle is provided between the centers thereof.  
         [0105]     When viewed in cross-sectional side view, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the top surface  212  of the top rim portion  210  also curves downwardly and outwardly from the inner edge  216  to the outer edge  214 .  
         [0106]     The outer edge  214  of the top surface  212  is curved such that the outer edge  214  is curved inwardly and downwardly at the valley portions  220  of the top surface  212  and curved outwardly and upwardly at the peak portions  218  of the top surface  212 .  
         [0107]     The rim member  154  in a preferred embodiment also has a curved rim portion  222 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 20 , the curved rim portion  222  curves upwardly and inwardly from the upper edge  186  of the projections  174  to the outer edge  214  of the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154 . The curved rim portion  222  connects the side rim portion  160  to the top rim portion  210  and provides a smooth transition from an outer surface  224  of the outer wall  162  of the side rim portion  160  to a top surface  212  of the top rim portion  210 . The curved rim portion  222  connects the convex upper edges  192  of the projections  174 to the outer edges  214  of the peak portions  218  of the top rim portion  210 . The curved rim portion  222  also connects the first and second concave upper edges  188 ,  190  of the projections  174  to the outer edges  214  of the valley portions  220  of the top rim portion  210 .  
         [0108]     The purpose of this configuration of the rim member  154  allows for a front portion of a bird&#39;s body to conform thereagainst when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  100  such that detrimental physical effects to the body of the bird are not caused, or are at least minimized, when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly, as will be discussed further herein under the heading “ Bird Welfare Features Of Feeder Assembly    100 ”. It should be noted that the configuration of the rim member  154  could be formed in a manner other than described hereinabove in order to achieve the objects of the invention, such that a front portion of a bird&#39;s body can conform thereagainst when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  100  such that detrimental physical effects to the body of the bird are not caused, or are at least minimized, when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  100 .  
         [0109]     Each spoke member  156 , as explained above, is connected at one end thereof to the rim member  154  and at an opposite end thereof to the collar member  158 . In a preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with smaller birds, the plurality of spoke members  156  number twelve (12) and are spaced equidistantly apart from one another with a thirty (30) degree angle between the centers of the spokes  156 . In another preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with larger birds, the plurality of spoke members  156  number eight (8) and are spaced equidistantly apart from one another with a forty-five (45) degree angle between the centers of the spoke members  156 . As each of the spoke members  156  are identical to one another, only a single spoke member  156  will be described herein.  
         [0110]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 17 - 20 , the spoke member  156  is preferably generally T-shaped in cross-section such that it has first and second legs  226 ,  228 . The first leg  226  and the second leg  228  are perpendicular to one another. The first leg  226  extends along a middle of the second leg  228  along an inner surface  230  thereof such that the first leg  226  extends inwardly from the second leg  228 .  
         [0111]     A first end  232  of the spoke member  156  is connected to the rim member  154 . More specifically, an end of the second leg  228  is preferably positioned on and connected to the peak portion  218  of the top rim portion  210 , proximate to the inner edge  216  thereof. A reinforcing member  234  extends from an outer surface  236  of the second leg  228  toward the outer edge  214  of the peak portion  218  and connects thereto to provide strength to the spoke member  156 .  
         [0112]     An end portion  238  of the first leg  226  extends beyond the end of the second leg  228  against a reinforcing member  240  of the rim member  154 . In a preferred embodiment, each reinforcing member  240  is connected to the inner edge  216  of the top rim portion  210  and extends downwardly from the inner edge  216  and is curved such that the entire reinforcing member  240  is equally distanced from the inner wall  164 . Each reinforcing member  240  extends circumferentially to connect the first legs  226  of a pair of adjacent spoke members  156  together. Each reinforcing member  240  extends on either side of the pair of adjacent spoke members  156  and is connected between the first legs  226  of the pair of adjacent spoke members  156 . Each reinforcing member  240  is not connected outside of the first legs  226  of the pair of adjacent spoke members  156 . Thus, in the preferred embodiment with twelve (12) spoke members  156 , the reinforcing members  240  number six (6) and are spaced equidistantly from one another at an angle of sixty (6) degrees from their centers. In the preferred embodiment with eight (8) spoke members  156 , the reinforcing members  240  number four (4) and are spaced equidistantly from one another at an angle of ninety (90) degrees from their centers. The reinforcing members  240  are preferably positioned alternately with the reinforcing members  194 , which are positioned along the inner surface  166  of the inner wall  164  of the side rim portion  160 .  
         [0113]     A reinforcing member  242  may be provided within the pocket  172 . Each reinforcing member  242  extends downwardly from a bottom surface  244  of the top rim portion  210  and extends circumferentially between each reinforcing member  240  and the inner wall  164 , but does not extend far enough down to impede the fourth portion  136  of the upstanding outer portion  116  of the pan member  104  from being inserted into the pocket  172  for connection of the pan member  104  to the grill member  106 .  
         [0114]     From the peak portions  218  of the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154 , each of the spoke members  156  preferably extends inwardly and upwardly. More specifically, and as best illustrated in  FIG. 15 , each spoke member  156  has a first, second, third, fourth and fifth portion  244 ,  246 ,  248 ,  250 ,  252 . From the top rim portion  210 , the first portion  244  curves inwardly and upwardly such that the outer surface  236  of the second leg  228  is convex. From the first portion  244 , the second portion  246  curves inwardly and upwardly such that the outer surface  236  of the second leg  228  is concave. From the second portion  246 , the third portion  248  extends inwardly and upwardly and is nearly planar with the vertical. From the third portion  248 , the fourth portion  250  curves inwardly and upwardly such that the outer surface  236  of the second leg  228  is convex. From the fourth portion  250 , the fifth portion  252  extends inwardly and upwardly and is nearly planar with the horizontal. The fifth portion  252  also connects to the collar member  158 . This structure of the spoke members  156  prevents larger birds from climbing into the feeder assembly  100  while feeding therefrom and also allows for a front portion of a bird&#39;s body to conform thereagainst when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  100  such that detrimental physical effects to the body of the bird are not caused, or are at least minimized, when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  100 , as will be discussed further herein under the heading “ Bird Welfare Features Of The Feeder Assembly    100 ”. It should be noted that the configuration of the spoke members  156  could be formed in a manner other than described hereinabove in order to achieve the objects of the invention such that larger birds would not be able to climb into the feeder assembly  100  and such that a front portion of a bird&#39;s body can conform thereagainst when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  100  such that detrimental physical effects to the body of the bird are not caused, or are at least minimized, when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  100 , as will be discussed further herein.  
         [0115]     The collar member  158  preferably includes a generally cylindrical portion  254  and an extension member  256  extending therefrom. The cylindrical portion  254  has an aperture  258  therethrough which defines an aperture wall  260 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 15-20 , the cylindrical portion  254  is preferably of a uniform inner diameter from a top end  262  thereof to a bottom end  264  thereof. The top end  262  of the cylindrical portion  254  extends above the fifth portions  252  of the spoke members  156  while the bottom end  264  of the cylindrical portion  254  extends down to approximately a position at which the third and fourth portions  248 ,  250  of the spoke members  156  connect.  
         [0116]     The cylindrical portion  254  has a plurality of grooves  266  cut into the aperture wall  260 . The grooves  266  extend from the top end  262  of the cylindrical portion  254  to the bottom end  264  of the cylindrical portion  254 . In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of grooves  266  number six (6) and are spaced equidistantly from one another and, thus, are positioned sixty (60) degrees apart from one another. The purpose of the grooves  266  will be discussed with more detail herein.  
         [0117]     The cylindrical portion  254  has a helical thread  268  winding inwardly around the aperture wall  260 . The helical thread  268  begins at one of the grooves  266  proximate to the top end  262  of the cylindrical portion  254  and winds around the aperture wall  260  until it returns to the groove  266  at which it started. The helical thread  268  ends at a position which is approximately midway between the top end  262  and the bottom end  264  of the cylindrical portion  254 . The helical thread  268  is cut away at the grooves  266  such that the helical thread  268  is only preferably provided along the aperture wall  260  where the grooves  266  are not provided. The purpose of the helical thread  268  will be discussed with more detail herein.  
         [0118]     The extension member  256  curves downwardly and outwardly from the top end  262  of the cylindrical portion  254 . The extension member  256  preferably has a first portion  270 , a second portion  272  and a third portion  274 . The first portion  270  of the extension member  256  curves downwardly and outwardly from the top end  262  of the cylindrical portion  254  such that a top surface  276  thereof is convex. The second portion  272  of the extension member  256  curves downwardly and outwardly from the first portion  270  of the extension member  256  such that a top surface  278  thereof is concave. The third portion  274  of the extension member  256  extends downwardly from the second portion  272  of the extension member  256  and is parallel to the cylindrical portion  254 . The fifth portion  252  of each of the spoke members  156  connects to the extension member  256  with the first leg  226  being connected to the third portion  274  and the second leg  228  being connected to the extension member  256  at the connection of the second portion  272  and the third portion  274 .  
         [0119]     The top surface  276  of the first portion  270  and the top end  262  of the cylindrical portion  254  can also have a plurality of indicators  280  placed thereon. In a preferred embodiment, the indicators  280  number six (6) and are positioned equidistantly around the top surface  276  of the first portion  270  and the top end  262  of the cylindrical portion  254  such that they are spaced sixty (60) degrees apart. The indicators  280  are preferably alternated with the grooves  266  and spaced equidistantly therebetween such that each indicator  280  is positioned thirty (30) degrees apart from the two closest grooves  266 . The indicators  280  are preferably numerals, i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The purpose of the indicators  280  will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow.  
       Outer Drop Tube Member  108   
       [0120]     Attention is now directed to the outer drop tube member  108 , which is best illustrated in  FIGS. 23-28 .  
         [0121]     The outer drop tube member  108  includes a member  282  having an aperture  284  therethrough such that the member  282  is hollow. The member  282  preferably has a first portion  286 , a second portion  288 , a third portion  290 , a fourth portion  292 , a fifth portion  294 , and a sixth portion  296 . The first portion  286  extends upwardly and inwardly from a bottom end  298  of the member  282  to a first end of the second portion  288  such that the member  282  has an inner diameter proximate to the bottom end  298  thereof which is larger than an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the second portion  288 . The second portion  288  extends inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the third portion  290  such that the member  282  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the third portion  290  which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the second portion  288 . The third portion  290  extends upwardly and inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the fourth portion  292  such that the member  282  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fourth portion  292  which is smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the third portion  290 . The fourth portion  292  extends upwardly and inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the fifth portion  294  such that the member  282  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fifth portion  294  which is smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fourth portion  292 . The fifth portion  294  extends inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the sixth portion  296  such that the member  282  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the sixth portion  296  which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fifth portion  294 . The sixth portion  296  extends upwardly from the first end thereof to a top end  300  of the member  282 , such that the member  282  has an inner diameter at the top end  300  thereof which is equivalent to the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the sixth portion  296 .  
         [0122]     The outer drop tube member  108  further preferably includes a plurality of wing members  302  extending therefrom. The wing members  302  are connected to an outer surface  304  of the member  282  along the first, second and third portions  286 ,  288 ,  290  thereof. The wing members  302  are curved outwardly and downwardly from the outer surface  304  of the member  282  such that a bottom end  306  of the wing members  302  is positioned below the bottom end  298  of the member  282 , thus allowing the aperture  284  of the member  282  to be open at the bottom end  298  thereof. The bottom end  306  of the wing members  302  is preferably flat or horizontal. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of wing members  302  number eight (8) and are positioned equidistantly apart from one another, such that each wing member  302  is positioned forty-five (45) degrees apart from one another. It should be noted that the outer drop tube member  108  could be provided without the wing members  302  if desired.  
         [0123]     The outer drop tube member  108  further includes a plurality of windows or openings  308 . Each window  308  is cut out from portions of the second, third and fourth portions  288 ,  290 ,  292  of the member  282 . In a preferred embodiment, each window or opening  308  defines a first edge  310 , a second edge  312 , a third edge  314 , a fourth edge  316 , a fifth edge  318 , a sixth edge  320 , and a seventh edge  322 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 48 .  
         [0124]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 27 , the first edge  310  extends horizontally along the fourth portion  292  of the member  282  proximate to the connection of the fourth portion  292  to the third portion  290 . From a first end of the first edge  310 , the second edge  312  extends downwardly and to the right to the third edge  314  in a concave manner. From a first end of the second edge  312 , the third edge  314  extends angularly downwardly and to the right to the fourth edge  316 . From a first end of the third edge  314 , the fourth edge  316  extends downwardly and to the right to the fifth edge  318  in a convex manner. From a first end of the fourth edge  316 , the fifth edge  318  extends horizontally and to the left to the sixth edge  320 . The fifth edge  318  is parallel to the first edge  310  and is provided at, or proximate to, the connection of the first portion  286  to the second portion  288 . From a first end of the fifth edge  318 , the sixth edge  320  extends angularly upwardly and to the left to the seventh edge  322 . The sixth edge  320  is preferably parallel to the third edge  314 . From a first end of the sixth edge  320 , the seventh edge  322  extends upwardly and to the left to the first edge  310  in a concave manner.  
         [0125]     In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of windows  308  number four (4) and are positioned equidistantly from one another, such that like portions of the windows  308  are positioned ninety (90) degrees from one another. Each window  308  is positioned such that the fifth edge  318  is between two adjacent wing members  302  with the connection between the fourth and fifth edges  316 ,  318  being proximate to one of the adjacent wind members  302 , and such that the first and sixth edges  310 ,  320  are positioned above the other one of the adjacent wing members  302 . It should be noted that the configurations of the windows  308  could be formed in a manner other than as described to achieve the objects of the invention.  
         [0126]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 25 and 26 , the outer drop tube member  108  preferably includes portions  324  which extend upwardly and inwardly from the bottom end  298  of the member  282  along an inner surface  326  of the first portion  286  such that the portions  324  form a shoulder or ledge  328  below the fifth edge  318  of each window  308 . In a preferred embodiment, the portions  324  number four (4) and are spaced equidistantly apart from one another, such that the portions  324  are spaced ninety (90) degrees apart from one another. The purpose of the portions  324  will be discussed further herein.  
         [0127]     The outer drop tube member  108  further preferably includes a helical track which is preferably a pair of helical threads  330 ,  332  which wind around the outer surface  304  of the sixth portion  296  of the member  282 . The helical threads  330 ,  332  begin winding proximate to the top end  300  of the member  282  to a position approximately lower than the midpoint between the top end  300  and the connection between the fifth and sixth portions  294 ,  296 . The helical threads  330 ,  332  are spaced apart from one another a distance which is slightly larger than the size of the helical thread  268  of the collar member  158  of the grill member  106 .  
         [0128]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 26 - 28 , the outer drop tube member  108  further preferably includes at least one retractable portion  334 . Each retractable portion  334  is formed on the sixth portion  296  of the member  282  approximately at the midpoint between the top end  300  and the connection between the fifth and sixth portions  294 ,  296 . The retractable portion  334  is formed by a pair of notches  336 ,  338  on either side thereof which extend from a top of the retractable portion  334  to a bottom of the retractable portion  334 .  
         [0129]     The retractable portion  334  also has a protrusion  340  extending outwardly therefrom. The protrusion  340  is capable of extending into the grooves  266  of the collar member  158  of the grill member  106  as will be discussed in more detail herein and, during rotation of the outer drop tube member  108  relative to the grill member  106 , allows the retractable portion  334  to be flexed inwardly when the protrusion  340  is not extended within one of the grooves  266  of the collar member  154 . In the preferred embodiment, the retractable portions  334  number two (2) and are positioned equidistantly from one another such that they are positioned one-hundred eighty (180) degrees from one another. The helical threads  330 ,  332  are cut away where they cross the retractable portion(s)  334 .  
         [0130]     The outer drop tube member  108  further preferably includes a top member  342  on the member  282 . The top member  342  extends perpendicularly inwardly from the top end  300  of the sixth portion  296  of the member  282 . The top member  342  covers a portion of the aperture  284  at the top end  300  of the member  282 .  
         [0131]     The outer drop tube member  108  further preferably includes an inner cylindrical portion  344 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 25 and 26 . The inner cylindrical portion  344  extends within the aperture  284  of the member  282  downwardly from the top member  342  of the member  282  to a position approximately equivalent to where the protrusion  340  is provided. The inner cylindrical portion  344  is of a uniform diameter and defines an aperture  346  therein.  
         [0132]     The outer drop tube member  108  further preferably includes a conduit acceptor member  348 . The conduit acceptor member  348  has an aperture  350  therethrough which is in communication with the aperture  346  of the inner cylindrical portion  344  and, thus, the aperture  284  of the member  282 . The conduit acceptor member  348  extends upwardly from the top member  342  of the member  282 , but does not cover the entire top member  342 .  
         [0133]     The conduit acceptor member  348  generally includes a first side member  352 , a second side member  354  and an arced intermediate member  356 . The first and second side members  352 ,  354  are identical and are distanced from one another a predetermined distance and have circular openings  358  therethrough. Tops of the first and second side members  352 ,  354  are also arced in conformance with the circular openings  358 . The arced intermediate member  356  is generally an upside down U-shaped piece and generally extends from the top member  342  between the first and second side members  352 ,  354  along their respective edges back to the top member  342 . The feed supply conduit  102  is capable of extending through the openings  358  of the first and second side members  352 ,  354  and of allowing feed to drop therefrom into the aperture  350  of the conduit acceptor member  348 .  
         [0134]     One side of the arced intermediate member  356  preferably has an indicator  357  provided thereon. The indicator  357  is preferably an arrow which is pointing down toward the top member  342  of the outer drop tube member  108 . The purpose for the indicator  357  will be discussed further herein under the section heading “ Adjustable Lower Feed Gate G- 1”.  
         [0135]     The openings  358  further have notches  360  therein at the top thereof to accept a protrusion (not shown) of the feed supply conduit  102  to prevent the feed assembly  100  from being moved relative to the feed supply conduit  102 .  
         [0136]     It should be noted that the configuration of the conduit acceptor member  348  may be formed to fit over various types of feed supply conduits.  
         [0137]     In a preferred embodiment, the conduit acceptor member  348  further includes at least one member  362  extending upwardly from the arced intermediate member  356  which is capable of accepting and retaining a roost wire. The member  362  preferably has reinforcing members  364  extending from the member  362  to the arced intermediate member  356 .  
         [0138]     A plurality of reinforcing members  366  which extend from both the first and second side members  352 ,  354  to the top member  342  of the member  282  are preferably provided. In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing members  366  number four (4) with two (2) of the reinforcing members  366  extending from the first side member  352  to the top member  342  of the member  282  and two (2) of the reinforcing members  366  extending from the second side member  354  to the top member  342  of the member  282 .  
         [0139]     The top member  342  further preferably has at least one aperture  368  therethrough proximate to the conduit acceptor member  348 . The aperture  368  defines both inner and outer edges  370 ,  372  which are curved and assists in the rotation of the inner drop tube member  110  relative to the outer drop tube member  108  in a manner and for a purpose which will be described in detail herein. It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment, only one (1) aperture  368  is provided in the top member  342 , but that two (2) apertures  368  could also be provided if desired.  
       Inner Drop Tube Member  110   
       [0140]     Attention is now directed to the inner drop tube member  110 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 29-33 . The inner drop tube member  110  is sized to fit within the aperture  284  of the member  282  of the outer drop tube member  108 .  
         [0141]     The inner drop tube member  110  preferably includes a member  374  having an aperture  376  therethrough such that the inner drop tube member  110  is hollow. The member  374  preferably has a first portion  378 , a second portion  380 , a third portion  382 , a fourth portion  384 , a fifth portion  386 , and a sixth portion  388 . The upstanding inner portion  114  of the pan member  104  is capable of protruding into the aperture  376  of the member  374  with the point  128  being within the fifth portion  386  of the member  374  for reasons discussed herein.  
         [0142]     The first portion  378  of the member  374  extends angularly upwardly and slightly inwardly from a bottom end  390  of the member  374  to a first end of the second portion  380  such that the member  374  has an outer diameter proximate to the bottom end  390  thereof which is larger than an outer diameter thereof proximate to the first end of the second portion  380 .  
         [0143]     From the first portion  378 , the second portion  380  extends inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the third portion  382  such that the member  374  has an outer diameter proximate to the first end of the third portion  382  which is smaller than the outer diameter thereof proximate to the first end of the second portion  380 .  
         [0144]     From the second portion  380 , the third portion  382  extends upwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the fourth portion  384  such that the member  374  has an outer diameter proximate to the first end of the fourth portion  384  which is substantially equivalent to the outer diameter thereof proximate to the first end of the third portion  382 .  
         [0145]     From the third portion  382 , the fourth portion  384  extends angularly upwardly and inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the fifth portion  386  such that the member  374  has an outer diameter proximate to the first end of the fifth portion  386  which is smaller than the outer diameter thereof proximate to the first end of the fourth portion  384 .  
         [0146]     From the fourth portion  384 , the fifth portion  386  extends upwardly from the first end thereof to a top end  392  of the member  374 . The fifth portion  386  extends to a position which is slightly smaller than a height of the top member  342  when the inner drop tube member  110  is positioned within the outer drop tube member  108 . The fifth portion  386  is parallel with the third portion  382 .  
         [0147]     The sixth portion  388  extends inwardly from the fifth portion  386  at the top end  392  of the member  374 . A generally circular opening  394  is provided through the center of the sixth portion  288 .  
         [0148]     The inner drop tube member  110  further includes a plurality of openings  396 . The openings  396  are cut out from portions of the first and second portions  378 ,  380  of the member  374 . Each opening  396  is defined by a top edge  398 , which is a bottom edge of the third portion  382  to which the second portion  380  would connect to the third portion  382 . Each opening  396  is further defined by a first side edge  400  and a second side edge  402 . The first side edge  400  extends downwardly from one end of the top edge  398  along the entire second portion  380  and along the entire first portion  378  to the bottom end  390  of the member  374 . Similarly, the second side edge  402  extends downwardly from the other end of the top edge  398  along the entire second portion  380  and along the entire first portion  378  to the bottom end: 390  of the member  374 . Thus, each opening  396  is open at the bottom end  390  of the member  374 , such that the openings  396  are not bounded by a bottom edge.  
         [0149]     For each opening  396  provided in the inner drop tube member  110 , the inner drop tube member  110  further includes first and second protrusions  404 ,  406  which extend outwardly from the first portion  378  of the member  374 .  
         [0150]     The first protrusion  404  extends outwardly from the first portion  378  of the member  374  along the entire length of the first side edge  400 . The first protrusion  404  has an inner edge (not shown), an outer edge  408 , a top edge  410 , and a bottom edge  412 . The inner edge of the first protrusion  404  is positioned along the entire length of the first portion  378  of the member  374  along the first side edge  400 . The top edge  410  extends angularly downwardly and outwardly to the outer edge  408  from a top of the inner edge, which is provided at the connection of the first portion  378  to the second portion  380 . The bottom edge  412  extends angularly downwardly and outwardly to the outer edge  408  from a bottom of the inner edge, which is provided at the bottom end  390  of the member  374 . The outer edge  408 , thus, extends from between the top and bottom edges  410 ,  412 . Thus, the first protrusion  404  extends below the bottom end  390  of the member  374 . The first protrusion  404  further includes a lip portion  414  which extends outwardly from the outer edge  408  of the first protrusion  404  proximate to the junction of the outer edge  408  and the bottom edge  412 .  
         [0151]     Similarly, the second protrusion  406  extends outwardly from the first portion  378  of the member  374  along the entire length of the second side edge  402 . The second protrusion  406  has an inner edge (not shown), an outer edge  416 , a top edge  418 , and a bottom edge  420 . The inner edge of the second protrusion  406  is positioned along the entire length of the first portion  378  of the member  374  along the second side edge  402 . The top edge  418  extends angularly downwardly and outwardly to the outer edge  416  from a top of the inner edge, which is provided at the connection of the first portion  378  to the second portion  380 . The bottom edge  420  extends angularly downwardly and outwardly to the outer edge  416  from a bottom of the inner edge, which is provided at the bottom end  390  of the member  374 . The outer edge  416 , thus, extends from between the top and bottom edges  418 ,  420 . Thus, the second protrusion  406  extends below the bottom end  390  of the member  374 . The second protrusion  406  further includes a lip portion  422  which extends outwardly from the outer edge  416  of the second protrusion  406  proximate to the junction of the outer edge  416  and the bottom edge  420 .  
         [0152]     The inner drop tube member  110  further includes a ring member  424 . The ring member  424  has an inner surface  426 , an outer surface  428 , a top surface  430 , and a bottom surface  432 . The ring member  424  has an inner diameter which is sized such that the lip portions  414 ,  422  of each of the first and second protrusions  404 ,  406  provided on the member  374  are connected to the ring member  424  at the inner surface  426  thereof. Thus, the inner drop tube member  110  provides a plurality of windows  434  which are defined by the top edge  398 , the first side edge  400 , the first protrusion  404 , the ring member  424 , the second protrusion  406 , and the second side edge  402 . The outer surface  428  of the ring member  424  is thus sized to fit within the aperture  284  of the member  282  with the bottom surface  432  of the ring member  424  capable of resting on the shoulders or ledges  328  of the member  324 .  
         [0153]     The inner drop tube member  110  may further include a plurality of third protrusions  436  which extend outwardly from the first portion  378  of the member  374 . Each third protrusion  436  is provided equidistantly between a first protrusion  404  along one of the windows  434  and a second protrusion  406  along an adjacent one of the windows  434 . The third protrusion  436  has an inner edge (not shown), an outer edge  438 , a top edge  440 , and a bottom edge  442 . The inner edge of the third protrusion  436  is positioned against the first portion  378  and extends from the bottom end  390  of the member  374  approximately one-third of the distance as does the first and second protrusions  404 ,  406 . The top edge  440  extends angularly downwardly and outwardly to the outer edge  438  from a top of the inner edge. The bottom edge  442  extends angularly downwardly and outwardly to the outer edge  438  from a bottom of the inner edge, which is provided at the bottom end  390  of the member  374 . The outer edge  438 , thus, extends from between the top and bottom edges  440 ,  442 . Thus, the third protrusion  436  extends below the bottom end  390  of the member  374 . The third protrusion  436  further includes a lip portion  444  which extends outwardly from the outer edge  438  of the third protrusion  436  proximate to the junction of the outer edge  438  and the bottom edge  442 . The lip member  444  is connected to the ring member  424  at the inner surface thereof. The third protrusion  436  provides added strength to the inner drop tube member  110 , especially to the ring member  424 .  
         [0154]     The fourth and fifth portions  384 ,  386  of the inner drop tube member  110  further preferably include a plurality of cavities  446  which extend from within the third portion  382  toward the top end  392  of the member  374 . The cavities  446  are covered by protrusions  448 . Each cavity  446  is in communication with the aperture  376  of the member  374 . In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of protrusions  448  number two (2) and are positioned equidistantly from one another such that they are positioned one-hundred eighty (180) degrees from one another. Preferably, the protrusions  448  extend the entire height of the fifth portion  386  from the fourth portion  384  to the top end  392  of the member  374 . Each of the protrusions  448  are preferably not in vertical alignment with any of the windows  434 . The protrusions  448  help to keep the inner drop tube member  110  centered within the outer drop tube member  108 , and also creates a gap between the inner drop tube member  110  and the outer drop tube member  108  in order to prevent a buildup of feed or dust between the inner drop tube member  110  and the outer drop tube member  108  which would hinder rotation of the inner drop tube member  110  relative to the outer drop tube member  108 . The cavities  446  are provided because of the formation of the protrusions  448 .  
         [0155]     The inner drop tube member  110  further preferably includes a plurality of slots  450  therethrough. Each slot  450  is generally vertical and extends through the second portion  380  of the member  374 , and cuts through the third portion  382  and a portion of the fourth portion  384 . In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of slots  450  number four (4) such that they are separated from one another by ninety (90) degrees. Each slot  450  is preferably situated between two (2) of the windows  434 . The slots  450  allow feed or dust in the gap between the inner and outer drop tube members  110 ,  108  to fall through the inner drop tube member  110  and into the pan member  104 .  
         [0156]     The inner drop tube member  110  further includes an extension member  451  which extends upwardly from one of the protrusions  448  which extends to the top end  392  of the member  374 . The extension member  451  is generally a circular cylinder and has an aperture  453  extending therethrough which defines an aperture wall  455 . The aperture  453  is in communication with the cavity  446  of the one protrusion  448 .  
       Inner Drop Tube Actuator  112   
       [0157]     Attention is now directed to the inner drop tube actuator  112 , which is best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  and  34 - 42 . Three different types of inner drop tube actuators  112   a ,  112   b  and  112   c  are described herein. Inner drop tube actuator  112   a  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 34 - 37 ; inner drop tube actuator  112   b  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5  and  38 - 39 ; and inner drop tube actuator  112   c  is illustrated in  FIGS. 40-42 . It should be noted that the three inner drop tube actuators  112   a ,  112   b  and  112   c  are the preferred configurations of the inner drop tube actuator  112 , with inner drop tube actuator  112   c  being the most preferred configuration of the inner drop tube actuator  112 .  
         [0158]     Attention is directed to inner drop tube actuator  112   a  and  FIGS. 1 and 34 - 37 . When the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  is moved linearly, the inner drop tube member  110  is forced to rotate within the outer drop tube member  108  for reasons which will be discussed further herein. It should further be noted that any means moved linearly to force the inner drop tube member  110  to rotate is to be considered analogous and/or equivalent to the inner drop tube actuator  112   a.    
         [0159]     Inner drop tube actuator  112   a  is formed to fit over and move along the feed supply conduit  102 . The inner drop tube actuator  112   a  preferably includes a first end member  452 , a second end member  454 , and a pair of middle members  456 ,  458  connecting the first end member  452  to the second end member  454 . As the first and second end members  452 ,  454  are identical to one another, the structure of the first and second end members  452 ,  454  will be described in connection with only the first end member  452  with the understanding that for every item identified in connection with the first end member  452 , the same will apply to the second end member  454 . Like reference numerals will be used to describe both the first and second end members  452 ,  454 .  
         [0160]     The first end member  452  has a top surface  460  and a bottom surface  462 . The first end member  452  further has a first side edge  464 , a second side edge  466 , an inner edge  468 , and an outer edge  470 . The first end member  452  is generally an upside down U-shape such that a top portion of the inner and outer edges  468 ,  470  are convex when viewed in side-elevational view (see  FIG. 35 ) such that the first end member  452  can be positioned around the feed supply conduit  102 . The first end member  452  also includes a generally circular opening  472  therethrough at a middle or peak  474  thereof. A generally circular cylindrical member  476  having an aperture  478  therethrough extends upwardly from the middle  474 . The aperture  478  of the circular cylindrical member  476  is in communication with the opening  472 . A top edge  480  of the circular cylindrical member  476  preferably includes a pair of notches  482 ,  484  which are equidistant from one another with one facing toward the outer edge  470  and the other facing toward the inner edge  468 .  
         [0161]     The first end member  452  further includes a pair of reinforcing members  486 ,  488 . The reinforcing member  486  extends from the first side edge  464  of the first end member  452  along the top surface  460  thereof, to the circular cylindrical member  476 , equidistant from both of the notches  482 ,  484 . The reinforcing member  488  extends from the second side edge  466  of the first end member  452 , along the top surface  460  thereof, to the circular cylindrical member  476 , equidistant from both of the notches  482 ,  484 .  
         [0162]     The first middle member  456  includes a middle portion  490  and first and second curved end portions  492 ,  494 . The middle portion  490  is generally rectangular in configuration. The first curved end portion  492  connects to both the middle portion  490  at one end thereof and to a bottom portion of the first end member  452  along the inner edge  468  thereof proximate to the first side edge  464  thereof. The second curved end portion  494  connects to both the middle portion  490  at an opposite end thereof and to a bottom portion of the second end member  454  along the inner edge  468  thereof proximate to the first side edge  464  thereof. The curved end portions  492 ,  494  curve outwardly from the end members  452 ,  454 .  
         [0163]     The first middle member  456  further includes a portion  496  which extends outwardly from, and perpendicularly to, a bottom edge  498  of the middle portion  490  of the first middle member  456 .  
         [0164]     The first middle member  456  further includes a pair of spaced apart reinforcing members  500 ,  502  which are connected to both the portion  496  and the middle portion  490 .  
         [0165]     The second middle member  458  includes a middle portion  504  and first and second curved end portions  506 ,  508 . The middle portion  504  is generally rectangular in configuration. The first curved end portion  506  connects to both the middle portion  504  at one end thereof and to a bottom portion of the first end member  452  along the inner edge  468  thereof proximate to the second side edge  466  thereof. The second curved end portion  508  connects to both the middle portion  504  at an opposite end thereof and to a bottom portion of the second end member  454  along the inner edge  468  thereof proximate to the second side edge  466  thereof. The curved end portions  506 ,  508  curve outwardly from the end members  452 ,  454 .  
         [0166]     The second middle member  458  further includes a portion  510  which extends outwardly from, and perpendicularly to, a bottom edge  512  of the middle portion  504  of the second middle member  458 .  
         [0167]     The second middle member  458  further includes a pair of spaced apart reinforcing members  514 ,  516  which are connected to both the portion  510  and the middle portion  504 .  
         [0168]     The middle members  456 ,  458  are spaced far enough apart from one another such that they do not become impeded by the conduit acceptor member  348  of the outer drop tube member  108  when the inner drop tube member  112   a  is moved, as will be described in more detail herein.  
         [0169]     The portion  496  has a generally oval-shaped opening  518  therethrough for reasons which will be discussed herein. The extension member  451  of the inner drop tube member  110  is capable of extending through the oval-shaped opening  518 . The reinforcing members  500 ,  502  are preferably positioned on either side of the oval-shaped opening  518 .  
         [0170]     It should be noted that the configuration of the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  maybe formed to fit over and move linearly over various types of feed supply conduits.  
         [0171]     Attention is directed to inner drop tube actuator  112   b  and  FIGS. 2-5  and  38 - 39 . When the inner drop tube actuator  112   b  is moved arcuately, the inner drop tube member  110  is forced to rotate within the outer drop tube member  108  for reasons which will be discussed further herein. It should further be noted that any means moved arcuately to force the inner drop tube member  110  to rotate is to be considered analogous and/or equivalent to the inner drop tube actuator  112   b.    
         [0172]     The inner drop tube actuator  112   b  includes an L-bracket  520 , a first fastening member  522 , a second fastening member  524 , and a nut member  526 .  
         [0173]     The L-bracket  520  has a first member  528  and a second member  530  which are connected to one another and are perpendicular to one another. The first member  528  has an aperture (not shown) therethrough. The aperture has a diameter which is equivalent to, or approximately equivalent to, a diameter of the aperture  453  of the extension  451  of the inner drop tube member  110 . The second member  530  has an aperture (not shown) therethrough.  
         [0174]     The first fastening member  522  is preferably a screw having a head portion  536  and a threaded shank portion  538  extending therefrom. The head portion  536  is larger than the diameters of the aperture  453  of the extension  451  of the inner drop tube member  110  and the aperture  532  of the L-shaped bracket  520 . The threaded shank portion  538  is sized to fit within the aperture  453  and the aperture of the first member  528  of the L-bracket  520  such that the threaded shank portion  538  engages the aperture wall  455  of the extension  451 .  
         [0175]     The second fastening member  524  is preferably a screw having a head portion  540  and a threaded shank portion  542  extending therefrom. The head portion  540  has a diameter which is larger than a diameter of the aperture through the second member  530  of the L-bracket  520 . The threaded shank portion  542  is sized to fit through the aperture  534  of the second member  530  of the L-bracket  520 . The threaded shank portion  542  has a slot  544  provided therethrough which extends from an end thereof toward the head portion  540 .  
         [0176]     The nut member  526  is preferably a wing nut which has an aperture  546  therein defining an aperture wall  548 . The aperture wall  548  is preferably threaded. The aperture  546  is sized such that the threaded shank portion  542  of the second fastening member  524  can be inserted therein and engage with the aperture wall  548 . The aperture  546  is preferably capped at one end thereof such that an extension member  550  extends from the end toward the opening of the aperture  546  between the aperture wall  548 .  
         [0177]     Attention is directed to inner drop tube actuator  112   c  and  FIGS. 40-42 . When the inner drop tube actuator  112   c  is moved arcuately, the inner drop tube member  110  is forced to rotate within the outer drop tube member  108  for reasons which will be discussed further herein. It should further be noted that any means moved arcuately to force the inner drop tube member  110  to rotate is to be considered analogous and/or equivalent to the inner drop tube actuator  112   c.    
         [0178]     The inner drop tube actuator  112   c  includes a first fastening member  552  and a nut member  554 .  
         [0179]     The first fastening member  552  includes a base portion  556 , a threaded shank portion  558 , and a snap-in extension  560 . The base portion  556  preferably has a first face  562  and a second face  564 . The second face  564  is provided perpendicular to the first face  562 .  
         [0180]     The threaded shank portion  558  extends outwardly from the first face  562  of the base portion  556 . The threaded shank portion  558  has a slot  566  provided therethrough which extends from an end thereof toward the first face  562  of the base portion  556 .  
         [0181]     The snap-in extension  560  extends outwardly from the second face  564  of the base portion  556  such that the snap-in extension  560  is perpendicular to the threaded shank portion  558 . At an end of the snap-in extension  560  opposite of the second face  564  of the base portion  556 , the snap-in extension  560  has a pair of flexible prong members  568 ,  570  which are separated from one another by a crevice  572 . Each of the prong members  568 ,  570  has a protrusion  574 ,  576  extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom proximate to the end of the snap-in extension  560  opposite the second face  564  of the base portion  556 , such that shoulders  578 ,  580  are provided on each of the prong members  568 ,  570 .  
         [0182]     The nut member  554  is preferably a wing nut which has an aperture  582  therein defining an aperture wall  584 . The aperture wall  584  is preferably threaded. The aperture  582  is sized such that the threaded shank portion  558  of the first fastening member  552  can be inserted therein and engage with the aperture wall  584 . The aperture  582  is preferably capped at one end thereof such that an extension member  586  extends from the end toward the opening of the aperture  582  between the aperture wall  584 .  
         [0183]     The structure and parts of the feeder assembly  100  as described hereinabove have numerous advantages over feeder assemblies of the prior art which will be discussed in connection with the operation of the feeder assembly  100  hereinbelow.  
       Operation of the Feeder Assembly  100   
     Assembly Of The Feeder Assembly  100   
       [0184]     In order to utilize the feeder assembly  100 , the parts of the feeder assembly  100  must first be assembled to that as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  and  40 .  
         [0185]     The inner drop tube member  110  is positioned within the aperture  284  of the member  282  of the outer drop tube member  108  with the bottom surface  432  of the ring member  424  of the inner drop tube member  110  being positioned on the ledges  328  of the outer drop tube member  108 . The fifth portion  386  of the inner drop tube member  110  is positioned around the inner cylindrical portion  344  of the outer drop tube member  108 .  
         [0186]     The conduit acceptor member  348  of the outer drop tube member  108  is positioned around the feed supply conduit  102  with an opening (not shown) in the feed supply conduit  102  being in communication with the apertures  284 ,  346 , of the outer drop tube member  108 .  
         [0187]     When the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  is utilized (see  FIG. 1 ), it is positioned around the feed supply conduit  102  with the first and second end members  452 ,  454  being positioned on the feed supply conduit  102  on either side of the conduit acceptor member  348  and with the first and second middle members  456 ,  458  being positioned on either side of the conduit acceptor member  348 . The extension member  451  extends through the aperture  368  of the outer drop tube member  108  and through the oval-shaped opening  518  of the inner drop tube actuator  112   a.    
         [0188]     When the inner drop tube actuator  112   b  is utilized (see  FIGS. 2-5 ), the first member  528  of the L-bracket  520  is positioned on top of the extension member  451  such that the aperture  532  of the L-bracket  520  is in communication with the aperture  453  of the extension member  451 . The threaded shank portion  538  of the first fastening member  522  is then inserted through the aperture  532  of the L-bracket  520  and into the aperture  453  of the extension member  451  such that the threaded shank portion  538  engages the aperture wall  455  of the extension member  451 . The threaded shank portion  538  is inserted into the aperture  453  of the extension member  451  until the head portion  536  of the first fastening member  522  abuts against the first member  528  of the L-bracket  520 . Thus, the L-bracket  520  is secured to the inner drop tube member  110 . The threaded shank portion  542  of the second fastening member  524  is then inserted through the aperture  534  of the second member  530  of the L-bracket  520  until the head portion  540  abuts against the second member  530  of the L-bracket  520 . The nut member  526  is then threadedly attached to the second fastening member  524  with the extension member  550  of the nut member  526  being positioned within the slot  544  of the second fastening member  524 .  
         [0189]     When the inner drop tube actuator  112   c  is utilized (see  FIG. 40 ), the aperture  453  of the extension member  451  is provided with a wider diameter portion such that a shoulder  588  is provided on the wall  455  of the aperture  453 . The prong members  568 ,  570  of the inner drop tube actuator  112   c  are flexed inwardly and inserted into the aperture  453  of the extension member  451 . The protrusions  574 ,  576  of the prong members  568 ,  570  are configured to fit within the wider diameter portion of the aperture  453  of the extension member  451  such that the prong members  568 ,  570  are unflexed and are secured within the aperture  453  of the extension member  451  with the shoulders  578 ,  580  of the prong members  568 ,  570  being abutted against the shoulder  588  of the extension member  451 . The nut member  554  is then threadedly attached to the threaded shank portion  558  of the first fastening member  552  with the extension member  586  of the nut member  554  being positioned within the slot  566  of the threaded shank portion  558 .  
         [0190]     The grill member  106  is positioned around, and connected to, the outer drop tube member  108 . The helical thread  268  of the grill member  106  is positioned between the helical threads  330 ,  332  of the outer drop tube member  108  such that the grill member  106  can be rotatably moved relative to the outer drop tube member  108 . The protrusions  340  on the outer drop tube member  108  are temporarily locked into position within the grooves  266  of the grill member  106 .  
         [0191]     The grill member  106  is connected to the pan member  104 . The upstanding outer portion  116  of the pan member  104  is positioned within the pocket  172  of the grill member  106  and is locked to the pan member  104  by the tab member  196  of the grill member  106  being positioned within the recess of one of the extensions  138  of the pan member  104 . As there are a plurality of extensions  138  around the circumference of the pan member  104 , the tab member  196  can be positioned within the recess of any one of the extensions  138  on the pan member  104 , thus allowing for the easy connection of the grill member  106  to the pan member  104  as the grill member  106  and the pan member  104  need not be rotated relative to one another by more than sixty (60) degrees, in the preferred embodiment, in order to connect the grill member  106  to the pan member  104 .  
         [0192]     The upstanding inner portion  114  of the pan member  104  extends up into the aperture  376  of the inner drop tube member  110  and the aperture  284  of the outer drop tube member  108 .  
         [0193]     The wing members  302  of the outer drop tube member  108  are preferably positioned above the base portion  118  of the pan member  104  such that the apertures  376 ,  284  of the inner and outer drop tube members  110 ,  108 , respectively, are in communication with the pan member  104  to define a first or lower gate G- 1  which is preferably always provided for in the feeder assembly  100 .  
       Reduction Of Birds Raking Feed Within The Feed Assembly  100   
       [0194]     The positioning of the wing members  302  which extend over the pan member  104  helps to reduce the amount of feed presented in the pan member  104  which the birds are capable of raking as the raking of feed can potentially cause the feed to become contaminated. Thus, because the birds cannot rake feed presented in the pan member  104  as freely as they could in some pan members of the prior art, the birds cannot rake the feed out of the pan member  104  onto the feeding surface of the poultry house where the feed will come into contact with waste and dirt, thus contaminating the feed.  
         [0195]     Thus, the positioning of the wing members  302  within or on the pan member  104  provides a number of advantages and benefits to the overall growth and health of the birds, and to the poultry grower&#39;s costs and expenses involved in growing the birds.  
       Adjustable Upper And Lower Feed Gates  
       [0196]     In accordance with the invention, the feeder assembly  100  can be used to present feed to birds of any size, whether they be young, small, immature birds, or older, larger, more mature birds. When birds are young and small, the birds typically require a generally high feed level in the pan member  104  so that the birds can find the feed and gain access to the feed. As the birds grow older and larger, the birds are able to find and gain access to the feed from interior portions of the pan member  104  and can obtain feed from raised pan members  104  if necessary. Thus, it is very desirable to be able to configure the feed level within the pan member  104  to any number of different heights, regardless of whether the feeder assemblies  100  are positioned on the feeding surface or are raised off of the feeding surface.  
       Adjustable Lower Feed Gate G- 1   
       [0197]     The height of the lower feed gate G- 1  can be adjusted, as desired by the poultry grower. The indicators  280  on the grill member  106 , when in alignment with the arrow indicator  357  from the outer drop tube member  108 , identify the height of the lower feed gate G- 1 . When the arrow indicator  357  is in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “1”, the poultry grower knows that the smallest height of the lower feed gate G- 1  is being provided, and that the feeder  100  is positively locked in this position because the protrusions  340  are positioned within the grooves  266  of the grill member  106  which are provided at a 90 degree angle from the indicator  280  numbered “1”. Conversely, when the arrow indicator  357  is in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “6”, the poultry grower knows that the highest height of the lower feed gate G- 1  is being provided, and that the feeder  100  is positively locked in this position because the protrusions  340  are positioned within the grooves  266  of the grill member  106  which are provided at a 90 degree angle from the indicator  280  numbered “ 6 ”. The arrow indicator  357  and the indicators  280  allow for the easy sight adjustment of the height of the lower feed gate G- 1  by the poultry grower, as well as also ensure to the poultry grower that the feeder  100  is positively locked in such a position.  
         [0198]     When the lower feed gate G- 1  is at the smallest height, with the arrow indicator  357  being in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “1”, the wing members  302  are positioned slightly above the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 . When the wing members  302  are positioned slightly above the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 , the helical thread  268  on the grill member  106  is meshed between the helical threads  330 ,  332  on the outer drop tube member  108  and the protrusions  340  on the outer drop tube member  108  are positioned within, and at a bottom of, the grooves  266  of the grill member  106  which are provided at a 90 degree angle from the indicator  280  numbered “1”. It should be noted that if the wing members  302  were not provided on the outer drop tube member  108 , and if the helical threads  280 ,  330 ,  332  were configured properly, the lower feed gate G- 1  could be closed as the bottom end  298  of the member  282  could be positioned on the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 .  
         [0199]     In order for the poultry grower to increase the height of the lower feed gate G- 1  to provide more feed within the pan member  104  and to provide a higher feed level within the pan member  104 , the poultry grower rotates the grill member  106  relative to the outer drop tube member  108 , which is rotationally stable, such that the helical thread  268  of the grill member  106  rotates downwardly within and between the helical threads  330 ,  332  of the outer drop tube member  108 , thus rotating the grill member  106  downwardly relative to the outer drop tube member  108 . At the same time, the protrusions  340  on the outer drop tube member  108  are capable of being flexed inwardly and out of the grooves  266  of the grill member  106 , as it is provided for on a retractable portion  334  of the outer drop tube member  108 . As the grill member  106  is rotated downwardly relative to the outer drop tube member  108 , the protrusions  340  will again protract into other grooves  266  of the grill member  106  to help retain the outer drop tube member  108  in the desired position based on the desired height of the lower feed gate G- 1 .  
         [0200]     Thus, the poultry grower can easily adjust the height of the lower feed gate G- 1  to provide for different levels and amounts of feed to be presented and retained by the pan member  104  by merely rotating the grill member  106  relative to the outer drop tube member  108 , with more feed being presented when the lower feed gate G- 1  is at a height defined by the arrow indicator  357  being in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “6”, as illustrated in  FIG. 43 , than at a height defined by the arrow indicator  357  being in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “1”, as illustrated in  FIGS. 45 and 47 .  
         [0201]     The adjustment of the lower feed gate G- 1  is performed without the lowering of the feeder assembly  100  to the feeding surface or the raising of the feeder assembly  100  off of the feeding surface.  
         [0202]     It should be noted that the adjustment of the height of the lower feed gate G- 1  is performed by the poultry grower without the poultry grower having to reach his/her hand into an inner portion of the feeder assembly as is required with prior art feeder assemblies. Rather, the poultry grower need only manipulate an exterior portion of the grill member  106  in order to change the size of the lower feed gate G- 1 . Thus, adjustment is facilitated and possible injuries to the poultry grower are eliminated as the poultry grower does not need to reach within the feeder assembly.  
       Adjustable Upper Feed Gate G- 2   
       [0203]     With the feeder assembly  100 , the poultry grower has the option of presenting the feed in the pan member  104  to the birds anywhere from a high feed level to a low feed level.  
         [0204]     The low feed level is presented to the birds in the pan member  104  when the windows  434  of the inner drop tube member  110  are not in alignment with the windows  308  of the outer drop tubes member  108 . Thus, when the windows  308 ,  434  are not in alignment with one another, the windows  308  are sealed off by the first, second and third portions  378 ,  380 ,  382  of the inner drop tube member  110 , forcing the feed to flow only through the lower feed gate G- 1 .  
         [0205]     In order to present a higher feed level to the birds in the pan member  104 , a second or upper feed gate G- 2  is provided in the feeder assembly  100  by aligning the windows  434  of the inner drop tube member  110  with the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108 . The upper feed gate G- 2  is preferably a variable or adjustable feed gate as the feed level presented by the upper feed gate G- 2  can be transitioned from a high level of feed to a low level of feed, with the low level of feed still being higher than the feed level provided by the lower feed gate G- 1 . The upper feed gate G- 2 , however, could be provided such that it is not a variable feed gate by changing the configuration of either of the windows  308 ,  434 .  
         [0206]     Preferably, for the highest feed level to be presented in the pan member  104 , the inner drop tube member  110  is rotated within and relative to the outer drop tube member  108  such that the windows  434  of the inner drop tube member  110  are positioned into alignment with an upper portion of the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108 , proximate to the first, second, third, sixth and seventh edges  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  320 ,  322  such that feed flows through the upper feed gate G- 2  and into the pan member  104 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 43 and 44 . The highest feed level will typically be utilized for very young and small birds. The operation of how the inner drop tube member  110  is rotated within and relative to the outer drop tube member  108  will be discussed further herein under the heading “ Rotation Of Inner Drop Tube Member    110 ”.  
         [0207]     In order to lower the feed level from the high feed level, but still provide a feed level that is higher than the feed level provided by the lower feed gate G- 1 , the inner drop tube member  110  is again rotated within and relative to the outer drop tube member  108  such that the windows  434  of the inner drop tube member  110  are positioned into alignment with a lower portion of the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108 , proximate to the third, fourth, fifth and sixth edges  314 ,  316 ,  318 ,  320  such that feed flows through the upper feed gate G- 2  and into the pan member  104 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 45 and 46 .  
         [0208]     By lowering the feed level even further, the inner drop tube member  110  is again preferably rotated within and relative to the outer drop tube member  108  such that the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108  are not in alignment with the windows  434  of the inner drop tube member  110 , thus forcing the feed to flow through the lower feed gate G- 1  and into the pan member  104 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 47 and 48 . This level would typically be utilized as the birds grow older and larger. Thus, the upper feed gate G- 2  is preferably closed from the top down, although the rotation of the inner drop tube member  110  relative to the outer drop tube member  108  could be caused to close the upper feed gate G- 2  from the bottom up.  
         [0209]     No matter what position the upper feed gate G- 2  is positioned in, i.e., allowing feed to flow therethrough or not allowing feed to flow therethrough, feed will always flow through the lower feed gate G- 1  in the preferred embodiment. Of course, as the inner drop tube member  110  can be selectively adjusted to precisely position the amount and location of feed in the pan member  104  in a plurality of different positions, other than those heretofore discussed and which are merely representative positions for discussion and illustration purposes, relative to the outer drop tube member  108 , the upper feed gate G- 2  can thus, likewise, have a plurality of different positions such that the upper feed gate G- 2  is, in essence, a variable feed gate such that the poultry grower can provide a smooth transition of feed from a high feed level to a low feed level. Of course, more positions of the inner drop tube member  110  relative to the outer drop tube member  108  can also be provided by changing the shape or configuration of the windows  308 ,  434  to provide different feed levels in the pan member  104 .  
         [0210]     It should be noted that the configuration of the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108  could be provided for on the inner drop tube member  110 , in place of the windows  434  thereof, while the windows  434  of the inner drop tube member  110  could be provided for on the outer drop tube member  108 , in place of the windows  308  thereof, if desired, as the same function would be performed and the same result achieved as the described preferred embodiment.  
         [0211]     Thus, the adjustable upper and lower feed gates G- 2 , G- 1  provide numerous advantages and benefits over feeder assemblies of the prior art. For instance, the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108  allow poultry growers to utilize a smooth transition from a high feed level, where feed flows through the variable upper feed gate G- 2  and the lower feed gate G- 1 , to a low feed level, where feed flows only through the lower feed gate G- 1 . Prior art feeder assemblies having upper feed gates did not have practical means to allow for the poultry grower to make a smooth transition from a high feed level to a low feed level in accordance with the size and age of the birds. Contrarily, prior art feed assemblies, as a practical matter, only allowed for either a high feed level or a low feed level by vertically moving parts of the feeder assemblies to either open or close the upper feed gate.  
         [0212]     The upper feed gate G- 2  can also be utilized regardless of whether the feeder assembly  100  is raised off of, or lowered to, the feeding surface. Contrarily, prior art feeder assemblies typically activated the upper feed gate by removing the feeder assembly from the feeding surface. This feature of the feeder assembly  100  allows for a number of different management styles to be utilized by the poultry growers depending on their preferences. For instance, in some parts of the world, poultry growers typically prefer to raise feeder assemblies off of the feeding surface prior to the closing of the upper feed gates. In contrast, in the United States of America, poultry growers typically prefer to close the upper feed gates prior to the raising of the feeder assemblies off of the feeding surface. In any event, the poultry grower has numerous possibilities and configurations of how to present the feed to the birds, regardless of the size or age of the birds, with the upper feed gate G- 2  being variable and adjustable, the lower feed gate G- 1  being adjustable, and the feeder assembly  100  capable of being raised off of the feeding surface, all of which function independently of the other.  
         [0213]     The poultry grower could also open the upper feed gate G- 2  to any desired position, when it would normally be closed, in order to stimulate the eating of the feed by older birds, as it would give them a short term high feed level.  
         [0214]     Also, in the preferred embodiment, by providing the feeder assembly  100  with a lower gate G- 1  which is always open, feed is always allowed to flow through the feed supply conduit  102 , in+o the apertures  346 ,  350  of the outer drop tube member  108 , into the aperture  376  of the inner drop tube member  110 , and through the lower feed gate G- 1  to the pan member  104 . Prior art feeder assemblies that utilized both upper and lower feed gates typically only allowed the feed to flow through one of the gates.  
       Cone Of Pan Member  104   
       [0215]     The upstanding cone or inner portion  104  of the pan member  104  extends higher from the base portion  118  of the pan member  104  than do cones of many prior art pan members. The cone  114  of the pan member  104  preferably extends to a height that is higher than the height of the windows  308 ,  434  of the outer and inner drop tube members  108 ,  110  in order to promote a high level of feed out of the upper feed gates G- 2  as the feed will cascade downwardly and outwardly toward the upper feed gates G- 2  after it comes into contact with the cone  114  of the pan member  104 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 43, 45  and  47 .  
       Rotation Of Inner Drop Tube Member  110   
       [0216]     As explained hereinabove, three different types of inner drop tube actuators  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c  can be used to rotate the inner drop tube member  110 .  
         [0217]     With regard to inner drop tube actuator  112   a , and as explained hereinabove, the extension member  451  of the inner drop tube member  110  extends through the aperture  368  of the outer drop tube member  108  and through the oval-shaped opening  518  of the inner drop tube actuator  112   a.  The inner drop tube actuator  112   a  is also capable of being linearly moved along the length of the feed supply conduit  102 , but linear movement of the inner drop tube actuator  1112   a  along the feed supply conduit  102  is limited by the conduit acceptor member  348  of the outer drop tube member  108 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0218]     In order to actuate the rotation of the inner drop tube member  110  to adjust or vary the position of the upper feed gate G- 2 , as described hereinabove, the poultry grower moves the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  linearly along the length of the feed supply conduit  102 . Linear movement of the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  forces movement of the extension member  451  of the inner drop tube member  110  within the aperture  368  of the outer drop tube member  108 . As the aperture  368  of the outer drop tube member  108  is arcuate, the extension member  451  rotates around the aperture  368  of the outer drop tube member  108 , thus, forcing the remainder of the inner drop tube member  110  to rotate. The rotation of the inner drop tube member  110  provides for the adjustment or varying of the position of the upper feed gate G- 2  by forcing the windows  434  of the inner drop tube member  110  to be in or out of alignment with the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108 .  
         [0219]     The actuation of the inner drop tube member  110  to control the positioning of the windows  434  relative to the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108  can be done in a number of manners. In a first manner, a poultry grower can string cables from the circular cylindrical members  476  of the first and second end members  452 ,  454  of the inner drop tube actuator  112   a.  The cables can then be moved to different positions to force the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  to be linearly moved to different positions to force the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  to be linearly moved along the feed supply conduit  102 , thus rotating the inner drop tube member  110 . Such an operation would be preferably used mainly in connection with the movement of a single feeder assembly  100 . In a second manner a lever can be connected to the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  to actuate the inner drop tube member  110 . Such an operation would be preferably used mainly in connection with the movement of either a partial or total system of feeder assemblies  100 . In a third manner, the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  can be connected to an electronics module that would be preprogrammed to linearly move the inner drop tube actuator  112   a  along the feed supply conduit  102  in a desired manner. Such an operation would be preferably used mainly in connection with the movement of an entire system of feeder assemblies  100 .  
         [0220]     As explained hereinabove, any means which can translate the linear movement thereof into the rotation movement of the inner drop tube member  110  is to be considered analogous and/or equivalent to the inner drop tube actuator  112   a , including elimination of an actuator member and using one&#39;s hand instead.  
         [0221]     With regard to the inner drop tube actuator  112   b , and as explained hereinabove, the first fastening member  522  secures the L-bracket  520  to the extension member  451  of the inner drop tube member  110 . Thus, in order to actuate the rotation of the inner drop tube member  110  to adjust or vary the position of the upper feed gate G- 2 , as described hereinabove, the poultry grower moves the inner drop tube actuator  112   b.    
         [0222]     The actuation of the inner drop tube member  110  to control the positioning of the windows  434  relative to the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108  is preferably done by the poultry grower stringing cables through the slots  544  of the second fastening member  524 , inserting the threaded shank portion  542  of the second fastening member  524  through the aperture  534  of the second member  530  of the L-bracket  520 , and then securing the nut member  526  over the threaded shank portion  542  of the second fastening member  524 . By securing the nut member  526  over the threaded shank portion  542  of the second fastening member  524 , the extension member  550  contacts the cable strung through the slot  544  and secures it within the slot  544 . The cables can then be moved to different positions to force the inner drop tube actuator  112   b  to be moved to different positions, thus rotating the inner drop tube member  110 . Of course, it is to be understood that other similar constructions of the inner drop tube actuator  112   b  could also be utilized to rotate the inner drop tube member  110 .  
         [0223]     With regard to inner drop tube actuator  112   c,  and as explained hereinbelow, the prong members  568 ,  570  secure the fastening member  552  to the extension member  451  of the inner drop tube member  110 . Thus, in order to actuate the rotation of the inner drop tube member  110  to adjust or vary the position of the upper feed gate G- 2 , as described hereinabove, the poultry grower moves the inner drop tube actuator  112   c.    
         [0224]     The actuation of the inner drop tube member  110  to control the positioning of the windows  434  relative to the windows  308  of the outer drop tube member  108  is preferably done by the poultry grower stringing cables through the slots  566  of the threaded shank portions  558  of the fastening members  552 , and then securing the nut member  554  over the threaded shank portion  558 . By securing the nut member  554  over the threaded shank portion  558 , the extension member  586  contacts the cable strung through the slot  566  and secures it within the slot  566 . The cables can then be moved to different positions to force the inner drop tube actuator  112   c  to be moved to different positions, thus rotating the inner drop tube member  110 . Of course, it is to be understood that other similar constructions of the inner drop tube actuator  112   c  could also be utilized to rotate the inner drop tube member  110 .  
       Bird Welfare Features Of The Feeder Assembly  100   
       [0225]     The structure of the feeder assembly  100  also provides for the overall welfare of the birds as they are feeding from the feeder assembly  100  by reducing detrimental physical effects to the birds caused by the birds feeding from the feeder assembly  100  and, thus, provides for a reduction of bird condemnation.  
         [0226]     In the growing of birds, poultry growers typically try to grow birds which have large, healthy breasts as birds with large, healthy breasts will be the most commercially valuable to the poultry grower. As the birds are grown to have large breasts, the birds generally become front-heavy such that when the birds are eating from feeder assemblies, the birds tend to rest the front sides of their bodies, namely their breasts, on or against the pan or grill members, depending on the configuration of the feeder assemblies, to reduce the amount of weight that the birds must support while they eat. It should be noted that some birds are not raised for the purpose of large breasts because of the cut-up market, but it is still invaluable to have birds with healthy bodies.  
         [0227]     Problems, however, can occur when the birds rest the front sides of their bodies on or against the pan or grill members. In particular, when the front sides of the birds rub against the pan or grill members, the front sides of the birds may become detrimentally physically effected, for instance, bruised. The detrimental physical effects to the birds&#39; front sides can potentially cause health problems for the birds and can potentially cause the birds to eat less than the poultry grower would desire as the birds would become uncomfortable resting their front sides on or against the pan or grill members. The detrimental physical effects on the birds&#39; front sides can also cause bird condemnation because after the removal of the birds&#39; feathers, visual inspection of the birds&#39; front sides can detect the detrimental physical effects thereon and, for instance, the effect on the color of the meat which is known to be a healthy color, thus possibly reducing the quality of grade given to the birds. Obviously, the lower quality of grade that is given to the birds, the less commercially valuable the birds become to the poultry grower. The feeder assembly  100  helps to prevent the foregoing by the configuration of the grill member  106  on both the rim member  154  and the plurality of spoke members  156 .  
         [0228]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 49 , the side rim portion  160 , the curved rim portion  222  and the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154  help to prevent the detrimental physical effects of the birds&#39; front sides by allowing the breasts of the birds to conform thereto. The side rim portion  160  has the plurality of projections  174  with the first concave portion  176  of one of the projections  174  connecting to the second concave portion  178  of an adjacent projection  174  to allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform thereagainst when the birds eat feed from the pan member  104 . The top rim portion  210  has the peak and valley portions  218 ,  220  to allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform to the valley portions  220  when the birds eat feed from the pan member  104 . The curved rim portion  222  allows for a smooth transition from the side rim portion  160  to the top rim portion  210  to allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform thereon. In other words, the front sides of birds will more easily conform on or against the grill member  106  of the present invention than those of the prior art because the prior art feeder assemblies generally do not have smooth transitions and do not provide areas to which the birds&#39; front sides to conform. Contrarily, prior art feeder assemblies typically provide for the exact opposite, having areas which would project into the front sides of the birds as they rest against the feeder assemblies and, therefore, do not allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform thereto, thus possibly causing detrimental physical effects to the birds&#39; front sides which can lead to health problems for the birds and can potentially cause the birds to eat less than the poultry grower would desire as the birds would become uncomfortable resting their front sides on or against the pan or grill members.  
         [0229]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 49 , the spoke members  156  help to further prevent the detrimental physical effects on the birds&#39; front sides by being set back on the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154  from the side rim portion  160  of the rim member  154 , proximate to the inner edge  216  of the top rim portion  210 . As the spoke members  156  are set back, the birds&#39; front sides can more easily rest on the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154 . The convexity of the first portion  244  of the spoke members  156  and the concavity of the second portion  246  of the spoke members  156  further allow for the birds&#39; front sides to easily conform thereto.  
         [0230]     Thus, the configuration of the grill member  106  helps assist in the overall health and comfort of the birds, as the grill member  106  is designed to be comfortable to the birds which leads to the birds staying longer at the feeder assembly  100  and, consequently, eating more feed.  
       Shallow/Deep Pan Depth  
       [0231]     It is an advantage that the feeder assembly  100  has both the capabilities of a shallow pan depth for young birds to have access to the feed in the pan member  104 , and a deep pan depth for older birds to feed from the pan member  104 .  
         [0232]     The shallow and deep pan depths are provided by the rim member  154  of the grill member  106  when the feeder assembly  100  is positioned on the feeding surface. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the valley portions  220  of the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154  provide for the shallow pan depth, which is typically about two and a half (2.5) inches from the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 . Young birds can see over the valley portions  220  of the top rim portion  210  to see the feed and be attracted thereto. The young birds can also climb into the pan member  104  at the valley portions  220  of the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154  such that the young birds so that they can eat the feed provided within the pan member  104 . It has been found that a pan depth of two and a half (2.5) inches is the optimal pan depth for feeding young birds. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  and  49 , the peak portions  218  of the top rim portion  210  of the rim member  154  provides for the deep pan depth, which is typically about three (3) inches from the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 . It has been found that a pan depth of three (3) inches is the optimal pan depth for feeding larger birds because this depth helps to prevent the larger birds from raking the feed presented in the pan member  104 , or building high feed levels within the pan member  104 , such that the amount of wasted or contaminated feed is minimized. It has been found that  3 / 4 ” is the optimal fed level for larger birds. Thus, the peak portions  218  of the top rim portion  210  force provide such a benefit when the feeder assembly  100  is utilized to feed larger birds.  
         [0233]     Thus, the feeder assembly  100  provides for the functionality of both a shallow pan depth feeder assembly necessary for younger birds and for a deep pan depth feeder assembly which is desirable for older birds such that the poultry grower need not have two sets of feeder assemblies, one with a shallow pan depth and one with a deep pan depth. The shallow/deep pan depths also require no work of any kind by the poultry grower or vertical movement of the feeder assembly  100  to be effected. The pan depths are naturally provided by use of the feeder assembly  100 , with only the size of the bird defining which pan depth the birds utilize.  
       Prevention Of Material Buildup In The Feeder Assembly  100   
       [0234]     The inner drop tube member  110  preferably includes the apertures  450  to allow dust, feed or other material to flow therethrough to prevent the buildup of excess material in the feeder assembly  100  which could potentially cause problems to the feeder assembly  100 .  
       Wide Eating Area  
       [0235]     The base portion  118  of the pan member  104  is wider than those generally provided in prior art feeder assemblies. The wider base portion  118  of the pan member  104  provides smaller birds with more room to eat, i.e., access to the feed presented in the pan member  104 . The wider base portion  118  of the pan member  104  also provides a visually larger feed area to the birds which, encourages the birds to eat the feed from the pan member  104 .  
       Cleaning Of The Feeder Assembly  100   
       [0236]     The feeder assembly  100  can be easily cleaned by the poultry grower. Prior to the cleaning of the feeder assembly  100 , the poultry grower can rotate the pan member  104  and the grill member  106  relative to one another such that the tab member  196  of the grill member  106  is not positioned within the recess of one of the extensions  138  of the pan member  104 . The hook member  144  on the pan member  104  is then positioned within the slot  208  of the grill member  106  to suspend the pan member  104  from the grill member  106 . Thus, once the pan member  104  is suspended from the grill member  106 , the poultry grower can commence cleaning of the feeder assembly  100  as the suspending of the pan member  104  from the grill member  106  allows the poultry grower to easily access all parts of the feeder assembly  100 .  
         [0237]     The inner drop tube member  110  can also, for instance, be removed from within the outer drop tube member  108  by pushing in the ring member  424  of the inner drop tube member  110  such that the ring member  424  no longer rests on the ledges  328  of the portions  324  of the member  282  of the outer drop tube member  108 , allowing the inner drop tube member  110  to be removed from the outer drop tube member  108 . The inner drop tube member  110  can later be reinserted within the outer drop tube member  108  as the ring member  424  will flex inwardly until the inner drop tube member  110  can rest on the ledges  328 . Thus, the ledges  328  of the portions  324  are capable of holding the inner drop tube member  110  within the outer drop tube member  108 .  
       Structure of the Feeder Assembly  600   
       [0238]     Attention is invited to the second embodiment of the feeder assembly  600  which is shown in  FIGS. 50-57 . The feeder assembly  600  differs from the feeder assembly  100  in that the feeder assembly  600  is not provided with an inner drop tube member, an inner drop tube actuator, or windows on the outer drop tube member. The illustrated feeder assembly  600  desirably is adapted to be used in connection with a poultry feeder system that includes a feed supply conduit  102 . Desirably, the feeder system includes a plurality of feeder assemblies  600 , which can be vertically adjusted to either rest on the ground or be suspended above the ground by raising or lowering the feed supply conduit  102  or by other suitable means. The feeder assemblies  600  are preferably utilized to feed all different types of birds, including chickens, turkeys and ducks, from a time when the birds are very young until the birds are fully grown. It should be noted that other types of animals could also be fed with the feeder assemblies  600  of the invention.  
         [0239]     It should be noted that the elements of the reference numerals of the feeder assembly  600  are similar to like elements of the reference numerals of the feeder assembly  100 , with elements having reference numerals in the six hundreds being similar to the elements having reference numerals in the one hundreds, elements having reference numerals in the seven hundreds being similar to the elements having reference numerals in the two hundreds, and elements having reference numerals in the eight hundreds being similar to the elements having reference numerals in the three hundreds.  
         [0240]     The illustrated feeder assembly  600  generally includes a pan member  104 , a grill member  106 , and a drop tube member  608 .  
         [0241]     The pan member  104  of the second embodiment is identical to the pan member  104  provided for in the first embodiment and, therefore, the details and advantages of the pan member  104  of the second embodiment will not be discussed herein. Likewise, the grill member  106  of the second embodiment is identical to the grill member  106  provided for in the first embodiment and, therefore, the details and advantages of the grill member  106  of the second embodiment will not be discussed herein. Thus, only the differences in structure and function between the first and second embodiments will be discussed herein.  
       Drop Tube Member  608   
       [0242]     Attention is now directed to the drop tube member  608 , which is best illustrated in  FIGS. 51-56 .  
         [0243]     The drop tube member  608  includes a member  782  having an aperture  784  therethrough such that the member  782  is hollow. The member  782  preferably has a first portion  786 , a second portion  788 , a third portion  790 , a fourth portion  792 , a fifth portion  794 , and a sixth portion  796 . The first portion  786  extends upwardly and inwardly from a bottom end  798  of the member  782  to a first end of the second portion  788  such that the member  782  has an inner diameter proximate to the bottom end  798  thereof which is larger than an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the second portion  788 . The second portion  788  extends inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the third portion  790  such that the member  782  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the third portion  790  which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the second portion  788 . The third portion  790  extends upwardly and inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the fourth portion  792  such that the member  782  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fourth portion  792  which is smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the third portion  790 . The fourth portion  792  extends upwardly and inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the fifth portion  794  such that the member  782  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fifth portion  794  which is smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fourth portion  792 . The fifth portion  794  extends inwardly from the first end thereof to a first end of the sixth portion  796  such that the member  782  has an inner diameter proximate to the first end of the sixth portion  796  which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the fifth portion  794 . The sixth portion  796  extends upwardly from the first end thereof to a top end  800  of the member  782 , such that the member  782  has an inner diameter at the top end  800  thereof which is equivalent to the inner diameter proximate to the first end of the sixth portion  796 .  
         [0244]     The drop tube member  608  further preferably includes a plurality of wing members  802  extending therefrom. The wing members  802  are connected to an outer surface  804  of the member  782  along the first, second and third portions  786 ,  788 ,  790  thereof. The wing members  802  are curved outwardly and downwardly from the outer surface  804  of the member  782  such that a bottom end  806  of the wing members  802  is positioned below the bottom end  798  of the member  782 , thus allowing the aperture  784  of the member  782  to be open at the bottom end  798  thereof. The bottom end  806  of the wing members  802  is preferably flat or horizontal. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of wing members  802  number eight (8) and are positioned equidistantly apart from one another, such that each wing member  802  is positioned forty-five (45) degrees apart from one another. It should be noted that the drop tube member  608  could be provided without the wing members  802  if desired.  
         [0245]     The drop tube member  608  further preferably includes a helical track which is preferably a pair of helical threads  830 ,  832  which wind around the outer surface  804  of the sixth portion  796  of the member  782 . The helical threads  830 ,  832  begin winding proximate to the top end  800  of the member  782  to a position approximately lower than the midpoint between the top end  800  and the connection between the fifth and sixth portions  794 ,  796 . The helical threads  830 ,  832  are spaced apart from one another a distance which is slightly larger than the size of the helical thread  768  of the collar member  158  of the grill member  106 .  
         [0246]     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 51-52  and  54 - 56 , the drop tube member  608  further preferably includes at least one retractable portion  834 . Each retractable portion  834  is formed on the sixth portion  796  of the member  782  approximately at the midpoint between the top end  800  and the connection between the fifth and sixth portions  794 ,  796 . The retractable portion  834  is formed by a pair of notches  836 ,  838  on either side thereof which extend from a top of the retractable portion  834  to a bottom of the retractable portion  834 .  
         [0247]     The retractable portion  834  also has a protrusion  840  extending outwardly therefrom. The protrusion  840  is capable of extending into the grooves  266  of the collar member  158  of the grill member  106  as will be discussed in more detail herein and, during rotation of the drop tube member  608  relative to the grill member  106 , allows the retractable portion  834  to be flexed inwardly when the protrusion  840  is not extended within one of the grooves  266  of the collar member  158 . In the preferred embodiment, the retractable portions  834  number two (2) and are positioned equidistantly from one another such that they are positioned one-hundred eighty (180) degrees from one another. The helical threads  830 ,  832  are cut away where they cross the retractable portion(s)  834 .  
         [0248]     The drop tube member  608  further preferably includes a top member  842  on the member  782 . The top member  842  extends perpendicularly inwardly from the top end  800  of the sixth portion  796  of the member  782 . The top member  842  covers a portion of the aperture  784  at the top end  800  of the member  782 .  
         [0249]     The drop tube member  608  further preferably includes an inner cylindrical portion  844 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 53 and 54 . The inner cylindrical portion  844  extends within the aperture  784  of the member  782  downwardly from the top member  842  of the member  782  to a position approximately equivalent to where the protrusion  840  is provided. The inner cylindrical portion  844  is of a uniform diameter and defines an aperture  846  therein.  
         [0250]     The drop tube member  608  further preferably includes a conduit acceptor member  848 . The conduit acceptor member  848  has an aperture  850  therethrough which is in communication with the aperture  846  of the inner cylindrical portion  844  and, thus, the aperture  784  of the member  782 . The conduit acceptor member  848  extends upwardly from the top member  842  of the member  782 , but does not cover the entire top member  842 .  
         [0251]     The conduit acceptor member  848  generally includes a first side member  852 , a second side member  854  and an arced intermediate member  856 . The first and second side members  852 ,  854  are identical and are distanced from one another a predetermined distance and have circular openings  858  therethrough. Tops of the first and second side members  852 ,  854  are also arced in conformance with the circular openings  858 . The arced intermediate member  856  is generally an upside down U-shaped piece and generally extends from the top member  842  between the first and second side members  852 ,  854  along their respective edges back to the top member  842 . The feed supply conduit  102  is capable of extending through the openings  858  of the first and second side members  852 ,  854  and of allowing feed to drop therefrom into the aperture  850  of the conduit acceptor member  848 .  
         [0252]     One side of the arced intermediate member  856  preferably has an indicator  857  provided thereon. The indicator  857  is preferably an arrow which is pointing down toward the top member  842  of the outer drop tube member  608 . The purpose for the indicator  857  will be discussed further herein under the section heading “ Adjustable Feed Gate G - 1  ”.  
         [0253]     The openings  858  further have notches  860  therein at the top thereof to accept a protrusion (not shown) of the feed supply conduit  102  to prevent the feed assembly  600  from being moved relative to the feed supply conduit  102 .  
         [0254]     It should be noted that the configuration of the conduit acceptor member  848  may be formed to fit over various types of feed supply conduits.  
         [0255]     In a preferred embodiment, the conduit acceptor member  848  further includes at least one member  862  extending upwardly from the arced intermediate member  856  which is capable of accepting and retaining a roost wire. The member  862  preferably has reinforcing members  864  extending from the member  862  to the arced intermediate member  856 .  
         [0256]     A plurality of reinforcing members  866  which extend from both the first and second side members  852 ,  854  to the top member  842  of the member  782  are preferably provided. In a preferred embodiment, the reinforcing members  866  number four (4) with two (2) of the reinforcing members  866  extending from the first side member  852  to the top member  842  of the member  782  and two (2) of the reinforcing members  866  extending from the second side member  854  to the top member  842  of the member  782 .  
       Operation of the Feeder Assembly  600   
     Assembly Of The Feeder Assembly  600   
       [0257]     In order to utilize the feeder assembly  600 , the parts of the feeder assembly  600  must be assembled to that as best illustrated in  FIG. 50 .  
         [0258]     The conduit acceptor member  848  of the drop tube member  608  is positioned around the feed supply conduit  102  with an opening in the feed supply conduit  102  being in communication with the apertures  782 ,  846 ,  850  of the drop tube member  608 .  
         [0259]     The grill member  106  is positioned around and connected to the drop tube member  608 . The helical thread  268  of the grill member  106  is positioned between the helical threads  830 ,  832  of the drop tube member  608  such that the grill member  106  can be rotatably moved relative to the drop tube member  608 . The protrusions  840  on the drop tube member  608  are temporarily locked into position with the grooves  266  of the grill member  106 .  
         [0260]     The grill member  106  is connected to the pan member  104 . The upstanding outer portion  116  of the pan member  104  is positioned within the pocket  162  of the grill member  106  and is locked to the pan member  104  by the tab member  196  of the grill member  106  being positioned within the recess  140  of one of the extensions  138  of the pan member  104 . As there are a plurality of extensions  138  around the circumference of the pan member  104 , the tab member  196  can be positioned within the recess  140  of any one of the extensions  138  on the pan member  104 , thus allowing for the easy connection of the grill member  106  to the pan member  104  as the grill member  106  and the pan member  104  need not be rotated relative to one another by more than sixty (60) degrees, in the preferred embodiment, in order to connect the grill member  106  to the pan member  104 .  
         [0261]     The upstanding inner portion  114  of the pan member  104  extends up into the aperture  784  of the drop tube member  608 .  
         [0262]     The wing members  802  of the drop tube member  608  are positioned above the base portion  118  of the pan member  104  such that the aperture  784  of the drop tube member  608  is in communication with the pan member  104  to define a gate G- 1 .  
       Reduction Of Birds Raking Feed Within The Feed Assembly  600   
       [0263]     The positioning of the wing members  802  which extend over the pan member  104  helps to reduce the amount of feed presented in the pan member  104  which the birds are capable of raking as the raking of feed can potentially cause the feed to become contaminated. Thus, because the birds cannot rake feed presented in the pan member  104  as freely as they could in some pan members of the prior art, the birds cannot rake the feed out of the pan member  104  onto the feeding surface of the poultry house where the feed will come into contact with waste and dirt, thus contaminating the feed.  
         [0264]     Thus, the positioning of the wing members  802  within or on the pan member  104  provides a number of advantages and benefits to the overall growth and health of the birds, and to the poultry grower&#39;s costs and expenses involved in growing the birds.  
       Adjustable Feed Gate G- 1   
       [0265]     The height of the feed gate G- 1  can be adjusted, as desired by the poultry grower. The indicators  280  on the grill member  106 , when in alignment with the arrow indicator  857  from the outer drop tube member  608 , identify the height of the feed gate G- 1 . When the arrow indicator  857  is in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “1”, the poultry grower knows that the smallest height of the feed gate G- 1  is being provided, and that the feeder  600  is positively locked in this position because the protrusions  840  are positioned within the grooves  266  of the grill member  106  which are provided at a  90  degree angle from the indicator  280  numbered “1”. Conversely, when the arrow indicator  857  is in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “6”, the poultry grower knows that the highest height of the feed gate G- 1  is being provided, and that the feeder  600  is positively locked in this position because the protrusions  840  are positioned within the grooves  266  of the grill member  106  which are provided at a 90 degree angle from the indicator  280  numbered “6”. The arrow indicator  857  and the indicators  280  allow for the easy sight adjustment of the height of the feed gate G- 1  by the poultry grower, as well as also ensure to the poultry grower that the feeder  600  is positively locked in such a position.  
         [0266]     When the feed gate G- 1  is at the smallest height, with the arrow indicator  857  being in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “1”, the wing members  802  are positioned slightly above the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 . When the wing members  802  are positioned slightly above the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 , the helical thread  268  on the grill member  106  is meshed between the helical threads  830 ,  832  on the drop tube member  608  and the protrusions  840  on the drop tube member  608  are positioned within, and at a bottom of, the grooves  266  of the grill member  106  which are provided at a  90  degree angle from the indicator  280  numbered “1”. It should be noted that if the wing members  802  were not provided on the drop tube member  608 , and if the helical threads  268 ,  830 ,  832  were configured properly, the feed gate G- 1  could be closed as the bottom end  798  of the member  782  could be positioned on the base portion  118  of the pan member  104 .  
         [0267]     In order for the poultry grower to increase the height of the feed gate G- 1  to provide more feed within the pan member  104  and to provide a higher feed level within the pan member  104 , the poultry grower rotates the grill member  106  relative to the drop tube member  608 , which is rotatably stable, such that the helical thread  268  of the grill member  106  rotates downwardly within and between the helical threads  830 ,  832  of the drop tube member  608 , thus rotating the grill member  106  downwardly relative to the drop tube member  608 . At the same time, the protrusions  840  on the drop tube member  608  are capable of being flexed inwardly and out of the grooves  266  of the grill member  106 , as they are provided for on retractable portions  834  of the drop tube member  608 . As the grill member  106  is rotated downwardly relative to the drop tube member  608 , the protrusions  834  will again protract into other grooves  266  of the grill member  106  in the desired position based on the desired height of the feed gate G- 1 .  
         [0268]     Thus, the poultry grower can easily adjust the height of the feed gate G- 1  to provide for different levels and amounts of feed to be presented and retained by the pan member  104  by merely rotating the grill member  106  relative to the drop tube member  608 , with more feed being presented when the feed gate G- 1  is at a height defined by the arrow indicator  857  being in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “6”, than at a height defined by the arrow indicator  857  being in alignment with the indicator  280  numbered “1”, as best illustrated in  FIG. 57 .  
         [0269]     The adjustment of the feed gate G- 1  is performed without the lowering of the feeder assembly  600  to the feeding surface or the raising of the feeder assembly  600  off of the feeding surface.  
         [0270]     It should be noted that the adjustment of the height of the feed gate G- 1  is performed by the poultry grower without the poultry grower having to reach his/her hand into an inner portion of the feeder assembly as is required with prior art feeder assemblies. Rather, the poultry grower need only manipulate an exterior portion of the grill member  106  in order to change the size of the feed gate G- 1 . Thus, adjustment is facilitated and possible injuries to the poultry grower are eliminated as the poultry grower does not need to reach within the feeder assembly.  
       Structure of the Feeder Assembly  900   
       [0271]     Attention is invited to the third embodiment of the feeder assembly  900  which is illustrated in  FIGS. 58-60 . The illustrated feeder assembly  900  desirably is adapted to be used in connection with a poultry feeder system that includes a feed supply conduit  102 , and which does not utilize a grill member, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,026. Desirably, the poultry feeder system includes a plurality of feeder assemblies  900 , which can be vertically adjusted to either rest on the ground or be suspended above the ground by raising or lower the feed supply conduit  102  or by other suitable means. The feeder assemblies  900  are preferably utilized to feed all different types of birds including chickens, turkeys and ducks, from a time when the birds are very young until the birds are fully grown. It should be noted that other types of animals could also be fed with the feeder assemblies  900  of the invention.  
         [0272]     It should be noted that the elements of the reference numerals of the feeder assembly  900  are similar to like elements of the reference numerals of the feeder assembly  100 , with elements having reference numerals in the nine hundreds being similar to the elements having reference numerals in the one hundreds and elements having reference numerals in the ten hundreds being similar to the elements having reference numerals in the two hundreds.  
         [0273]     The illustrated feeder assembly  900  generally includes a pan member  904  and a drop tube assembly  907 . The drop tube assembly  907  of the feeder assembly  900  will not be discussed, however, as it is not considered to be germane to the invention of the third embodiment of the invention as a drop tube assembly of the type disclosed herein with regard to the first and second embodiments, or a drop tube assembly of the type disclosed in prior art patents, could be utilized and still achieve the objects of the invention. The pan member  904  of the third embodiment is configured to have parts similar to both the pan member  104  and the grill member  106 , as the feeder assembly  900  does not have a grill member.  
         [0274]     Attention is now directed to the pan member  904 . The pan member  904  has at least an upstanding outer portion  916  and a base portion  918  which are integrally formed. An outer surface  920  of the pan member  904  at the base portion  918  is capable of resting on a feeding surface of a poultry house, such as a floor or the ground.  
         [0275]     The upstanding outer portion  916  preferably has a rim member  954  thereon at a top thereof. The rim member  954 , in a preferred embodiment, is generally circular, although the configuration of the rim member  954  could be formed in a manner other than circular in order to achieve the objects of the invention. A side rim portion  960  of the rim member  954  has an outer surface  968 , and is commensurate with an outer surface  920  of the upstanding outer portion  916 .  
         [0276]     The outer surface  968  of the side rim portion  960  is formed from a plurality of projections  974 . In a preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with smaller birds, the plurality of projections  974  number twelve (12) and are spaced equidistantly apart from one another with a thirty (30) degree angle between the centers of the projections  974 . In another preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with larger birds, the plurality of projections  974  number eight (not shown) and are spaced equidistantly apart from one another with a forty-five (45) degree angle between the centers of the projections  974 .  
         [0277]     In a preferred embodiment, and as best illustrated in  FIGS. 58 and 59 , each projection  974  has a first concave portion  976  at one end thereof, a second concave portion  978  at an opposite end thereof, and a convex portion  980  between the first and second concave portions  976 ,  978 . On adjacent projections  974 , an end of the first concave portion  976  of one of the adjacent projections  974  preferably, but not necessarily, meets an end of the second concave portion  978  of the other one of the adjacent projections  974 . Thus, the outer surface  968  of the side rim portion  960  is provided at varying radial distances from a center of the feeder assembly  900 .  
         [0278]     Also, in a preferred embodiment, an upper edge  986  of each projection  974  is formed of a first concave edge  988  at one end thereof, a second concave edge  990  at an opposite end thereof, and a convex edge  992  between the first and second concave edges  988 ,  990 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 58 and 59 . On adjacent projections  974 , an end of the first concave edge  988  of one of the adjacent projections  974  preferably, but not necessarily, meets an end of the second concave edge  990  of the other one of the adjacent projections  974 . Thus, the upper edge  986  of the projections  974  of the side rim portion  960  is provided at varying vertical distances from the base portion  918  of the pan member  904 . The first concave edge  988  is provided for at the upper edge  986  of the first concave portion  976 , the second concave edge  990  is provided for at the upper edge  986  of the second concave portion  978 , and the convex edge  992  is provided for at the upper edge  986  of the convex portion  980 .  
         [0279]     The rim member  954  in a preferred embodiment also has a top rim portion  1010 . The top rim portion  1010  has a top surface  1012  which is defined between an outer edge  1014  and an inner edge  1016  of the top rim portion  1010 . When viewed in a side-elevational view, as in  FIG. 58 , the top surface  1012  appears to be provided in a series of curved peak portions  1018  and curved valley portions  1020  extending circumferentially around the top rim portion  1010 . The peak portions  1018  and the valley portions  1020  are formed because the inner edge  1016  of the top surface  1012  curves circumferentially downwardly from one of the peak portions  1018  to a point which is equidistant between the one peak portion  1018  and the adjacent peak portion  1018 , and then curves circumferentially upwardly to the adjacent peak portion  1018 . Similarly, the peak portions  1018  and the valley portions  1020  are formed because an outer edge  1014  of the top surface  1012  curves circumferentially downwardly proximate to one of the peak portions  1018  to a point which is equidistant between the one peak portion  1018  and the adjacent peak portion  1018 , and then curves circumferentially upwardly proximate to the adjacent peak portion  1018 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, and preferably for use with smaller birds, the top surface  1012  of the top rim portion  1010  has twelve (12) peak portions  1018  and twelve (12) valley portions  1020 , which are alternated around the circumference of the rim member  954  such that a thirty (30) degree angle is provided between the centers thereof. In another preferred embodiment, and preferably for use with larger birds, the top surface  1012  of the top rim portion  1010  has eight (8) peak portions  1018  and eight (8) valley portions  1020  (not shown), which are alternated around the circumference of the rim member  954  such that a forty-five (45) degree angle is provided between the centers thereof.  
         [0280]     When viewed in side-elevational view, as best illustrated in  FIG. 58 , the top surface  1012  of the top rim portion  1010  also curves downwardly and outwardly from the inner edge  1016  to the outer edge  1014 .  
         [0281]     The outer edge  1014  of the top surface  1012  is curved such that the outer edge  1014  is curved inwardly and downwardly at the valley portions  1020  of the top surface  1012  and curved outwardly and upwardly at the peak portions  1018  of the top surface  1012 .  
         [0282]     The rim member  954  in a preferred embodiment also has a curved rim portion  1022 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 58 and 59 , the curved rim portion  1022  connects the side rim portion  960  to the top rim portion  1010  and provides a smooth transition from the outer surface  968  of the side rim portion  960  to a top surface  1012  of the top rim portion  1010 . The curved rim portion  1022  connects the convex edges  992  of the projections  974  to the outer edges  1014  of the peak portions  1018  of the top rim portion  1010 . The curved rim portion  1022  also connects the concave edges  988 ,  990  of the projections  974  to the outer edges  1014  of the valley portions  1020  of the top rim portion  1010 .  
         [0283]     The purpose of this configuration of the rim member  954  allows for a front portion of a bird&#39;s body to conform thereagainst when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  900  such that detrimental physical effects to the body of the bird are not caused, or are at least minimized, when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly, as will be discussed further herein under the heading “ Bird Welfare Features Of The Feeder Assembly    900 ”. It should be noted that the configuration of the rim member  954  and the pan member  904  could be formed in a manner other than described hereinabove in order to achieve the objects of the invention, such that a front portion of a bird&#39;s body can conform thereagainst when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  900  such that detrimental physical effects to the body of the bird are not caused, or are at least minimized, when the bird feeds from the feeder assembly  900 .  
       Bird Welfare Features Of The Feeder Assembly  900   
       [0284]     The structure of the feeder assembly  900  provides for the overall welfare of the birds as they are feeding from the feeder assembly  900  by reducing detrimental physical effects to the birds caused by the birds feeding from the feeder assembly  900  and, thus, provides for a reduction of bird condemnation.  
         [0285]     In the growing of birds, poultry growers typically try to grow birds which have large, healthy breasts as birds with large, healthy breasts will be the most commercially valuable to the poultry grower. As the birds are grown to have large breasts, the birds generally become front-heavy such that when the birds are eating from feeder assemblies, the birds tend to rest the front sides of their bodies, namely their breasts, on or against the pan or grill members, depending on the configuration of the feeder assemblies, to reduce the amount of weight that the birds must support while they eat. It should be noted that some birds are not raised for the purpose of large breasts because of the cut-up market, but it is still invaluable to have birds with healthy bodies.  
         [0286]     Problems, however, can occur when the birds rest the front sides of their bodies on or against the pan or grill members. In particular, when the front sides of the birds rub against the pan or grill members, the front sides of the birds may become detrimentally physically effected, for instance, bruised. The detrimental physical effects to the birds&#39; front sides can potentially cause health problems for the birds and can potentially cause the birds to eat less than the poultry grower would desire as the birds would become uncomfortable resting their front sides on or against the pan or grill members. The detrimental physical effects on the birds&#39; front sides can also cause bird condemnation because after the removal of the birds&#39; feathers, visual inspection of the birds&#39; front sides can detect the detrimental physical effects thereon and, for instance, the effect on the color of the meat which is known to be a healthy color, thus possibly reducing the quality of grade given to the birds. Obviously, the lower quality of grade that is given to the birds, the less commercially valuable the birds become to the poultry grower. The feeder assembly  900  helps to prevent the foregoing by the configuration of the rim member  954  of the pan member  904 .  
         [0287]     As best illustrated in  FIG. 60 , the side rim portion  960 , the curved rim portion  1022  and the top rim portion  1010  of the rim member  954  help to prevent, or at least minimize, the detrimental physical effects of the birds&#39; front sides by allowing the breasts of the birds to conform thereto. The side rim portion  960  has the plurality of projections  974  with the first concave portion  976  of one of the projections  974  connecting to the second concave portion  978  of an adjacent projection  974  to allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform thereagainst when the birds eat feed from the pan member  904 . The top rim portion  1010  has the peak and valley portions  1018 ,  1020  to allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform to the valley portions  1020  when the birds eat feed from the pan member  904 . The curved rim portion  1022  allows for a smooth transition from the side rim portion  954  to the top rim portion  1010  to allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform thereon. In other words, the front sides of birds will more easily conform on or against the pan member  904  of the present invention than those of the prior art because the prior art feeder assemblies generally do not have smooth transitions and do not provide areas to which the birds&#39; front sides conform. Contrarily, prior art feeder assemblies typically provide for the exact opposite, having areas which would project into the front sides of the birds as they rest against the feeder assemblies and, therefore, do not allow the birds&#39; front sides to conform thereto, thus possibly causing detrimental physical effects to the birds&#39;s front sides which can lead to health problems for the birds and can potentially cause the birds to eat less than the poultry grower would desire as the birds would become uncomfortable resting their front sides on or against the pan or grill members.  
         [0288]     Thus, the configuration of the pan member  904  helps assist in the overall health and comfort of the birds, as the pan member  904  is designed to be comfortable to the birds which leads to the birds staying longer at the feeder assembly  900  and, consequently, eating more feed.  
       Shallow/Deep Pan Depth  
       [0289]     It is an advantage that the feeder assembly  900  has both the capabilities of a shallow pan depth for young birds to have access to the feed in the pan member  904 , and a deep pan depth for older birds to feed from the pan member  904 .  
         [0290]     The shallow and deep pan depths are provided by the rim member  954  of the pan member  904  when the feeder assembly  900  is positioned on the feeding surface. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 58 and 60 , the valley portions  1020  of the top rim portion  1010  of the rim member  954  provide for the shallow pan depth, which is typically about two and a half (2.5) inches from the base portion  918  of the pan member  904 . Young birds can see over the valley portions  1020  of the top rim portion  1010  to see the feed and be attracted thereto. The young birds can also climb into the pan member  904  at the valley portions  1020  of the top rim portion  1010  of the rim member  954  such that the young birds so that they can eat the feed provided within the pan member  904 . It has been found that a pan depth of two and a half (2.5) inches is the optimal pan depth for feeding young birds. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 58 and 60 , the peak portions  1018  of the top rim portion  1010  of the rim member  954  provides for the deep pan depth, which is typically about three (3) inches from the base portion  918  of the pan member  904 . It has been found that a pan depth of three (3) inches is the optimal pan depth for feeding larger birds because this depth helps to prevent the larger birds from raking the feed presented in the pan member  904 , or building high feed levels within the pan member  904 , such that the amount of wasted or contaminated feed is minimized. It has been found that ¾″ is the optimal feed level for larger birds. Thus, the peak portions  1018  of the top rim portion  1010  force provide such a benefit when the feeder assembly  900  is utilized to feed larger birds.  
         [0291]     Thus, the feeder assembly  900  provides for the functionality of both a shallow pan depth feeder assembly necessary for younger birds and for a deep pan depth feeder assembly which is desirable for older birds such that the poultry grower need not have two sets of feeder assemblies, one with a shallow pan depth and one with a deep pan depth. The shallow/deep pan depths also require no work of any kind by the poultry grower or vertical movement of the feeder assembly  900  to be effected. The pan depths are naturally provided by use of the feeder assembly  900 , with only the size of the bird defining which pan depth the birds utilize.  
         [0292]     While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.