Improved Feeding Appliance for Birds.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Feeding Appliance for Birds.
I, JOHANN HEINRICH GRELL, Senior, Gentleman of 129 Bismarckstrasse Hamburg
in the free State of Hamburg and Empire of Germany, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The small feeding appliance constituting this Invention and two modifications of which
are shewn in the accompanying drawings has for its object to provide an easily accessible
feeding place for birds and to supply them with the necessary food in sufficient
quantity snch supply being so regulated that the birds may not waste the same.
The apparatus shown in Sheet I relates to a feeding place for wild birds i.e. for birds
free to fly about, this place being so arranged that the birds can obtain their necessary
food during any weather. The apparatus shown in Sheet II serves as a feeding place
for tame or domestic birds i.e. birds kept in an enclosed space and is readily controlled
filled and suspended from outside without disturbing the birds and without its
being liable to be damaged by the bites of such animals. This apparatus is practical
bas a pleasant appearance and can be cheaply manufactured.
The troughs hitherto used and arranged within cages were so constructed as to
give birds every facility for wasting their food wantonly, such food being scattered
about and forming a thick layer at the bottom of the cage, which was finally
thrown away as waste when the latter was cleansed.
Figure 1, Sheet I is a front view of the feeding cage or house. Figure 2 is a plan
and Figure 3 a side view of the same, the roof having been removed. Figure 4
Sheet II is a front view of the feeding trough for tame birds. Figure 5 is a rear
view of the same, the back wall being removed. Figure 6 is a side view. Figures 7
and Ta show respectively a front and side view of a removable beak piece for
popinjays. Figure 8 is a front view of the same for smaller birds. The lantern
shaped feeding house a Sheet I covered by the roof is divided diagonally by the
partition walls c into four compartments A B C D. Each of these compartments
receives a vessel shaped to fit exactly therein. Two opposite vessels or receptacles
are closed by a glass plate d while the other two are enclosed by a tinned wire trellis d'.
The vessels and f1, closed by means of glass plates, are used, one for small seeds and
the other for corn-like products of the field, while the vessels g and g' closed
by a tinned wire trellis are supplied one with every description of house refuse
and the other with softer food such as bones retaining some waste meat. The vessels,
and g reach as far as the bottom of the lantern shaped upper frame while a
space is left between the vessels and f₁ and the said bottom h. At the lower
part of each vessel is formed an opening m which can be enlarged or reduced when
required by means of a slide n Figure 3, so that the birds have merely access to the
food at least as far as relates to seeds and corn products which according as the slide
is placed fall upon the bottom h. The roof is fixed to the part a by means of a
hinge o so as to be removable therefrom the part a being secured to the lower frame F
by means of a tube having a quadrangular form in the centre and provided with
perches o¹ fixed thereto for the birds to stand on when feeding. The roof is terminated
by an ornamental top having only for object to improve its appearance. The feeding
place k is thoroughly protected from rain and snow by the above mentioned roof and
owing to its position in the compartments A, B, C, D, so that the food is not liable
to be damaged.
9
The apparatus shewn in Sheet II applies to a feeding place far tame birds and is
constructed on the above principle. The same consists of a rectangular shell p in the
centre of which is arranged the roof or bridge p'. The upper half of the front side of
this apparatus is formed by a glass plate q which rests upon the bridge pl. In the
D

page_text: lower half is formed the rectangular oponing on both sides of which are arranged
the guides in which the feeding mouth or funnel G (Figures 7, 7a and 8) can
easily slide. Above the bridge p the shell p is furnished internally and at both
sides with two strips, arranged obliquely while the cover is suspended on
hinges. At the sides of the shell p are fixed bent wires or hooks s' by means of
which the food receptacles are suspended to the cage from outside in such a manner
that the feeding beak thereof passes through the wires of the same. Should it be
necessary that the receptacle be particularly firmly fixed as required for certain birds
'such as popinjays for instance the same is further secured by introducing and tightly
nipping the spring bands or hooks and v¹ formed on both sides of the receptacle
bohind and in front of the cage wires.
The food introduced in the apparatus falls first upon the oblique strips and drops
therefrom upon the bridge p' rolling thence on to the bottom of the shell whereat it is
only so far accessible to the birds as allowed by the feeding beak or funnel the shapo
of which is clearly shown in Figures 7, 7a and 8. The special feeding beak
provided for popinjays may likewise be used for smaller birds, provided the intervals
between two of the wires of the cage are somewhat enlarged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
olaim is :-
1. A feeding appliance for wild birds constructed and furnished substantially as
described with reference to sheet 1 of the annexed drawings.
2. A feeding appliance for tame birds constructed and furnished substantially as
described with reference to sheet 2 of the annexed drawings.
Dated this Twentieth day of March 1890.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.