Feeding Trough for Small Animals, Birds, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June. 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Feeding Trough for Small Animals, Birds, and the like.
I, WILHELM WESTPHAL, of Sachsendorf, No. 14, near Zuchau, Kreis Calbe,.
in the Empire of Germany, Farmer, 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 object of this invention. is a feeding trough which is suitable for feeding
hens, pheasants etc., and which, with small alterations can also be used for
pigeons etc.; but in consequence of its peculiar construction it does not allow
sparrows etc., to get at the food. The apparatus can also be arranged, if desired,
to be used by small animals.
On the annexed drawing one form is shewn in which it may be made :-
In Figure 1 in side view and
In Figure 2 in section.
In the house a is placed the feeding trough b. In order to keep this closed in
when no bird or animal is feeding, the wire netting c, which is provided with two-
side or end parts d, is arranged so that it can turn about the axis e, and that in
such a way that the weight of c itself always tends to keep it down and so encloses
the irough. A stepping board g is suspended from the frame of d by the bands f
which are pivotted with a loose joint. In addition wire netting of a mesh and
dimensions varying according to the different kinds of birds and animals to be fed'
may also be inserted in the apparatus which can be removed when it is desired, for
instance, to use the apparatus for feeding pigeons. The cover of the apparatus is
arranged similarly to a roof, and the side a¹ is hinged so that it can be turned back
when the trough is to be filled. The food is poured in, falls on the board i and
through the wire netting c into the trough . If now the bird or animal in question
steps on the board g, then the whole apparatus is brought to the position indicated
by the dotted lines; the frame c and with it the wire work c goes back against the
wall of the house and the trough is then accessible, so that the animals or birds can
feed all right. If the stepping board g is then vacated, the apparatus resumes the
position shewn in the drawing and the trough is closed. If the apparatus is to be
used for feeding pigeons, the wire work is removed, but in this case the balancing
of the apparatus must be adjusted so that it still acts with the weight of a pigeon..
The wire netting c, the board i, and the side part d are arranged so that they can
easily be removed and that cleaning or any necessary repairs can be proceeded
with conveniently. Thus the apparatus can be used in its complete state for hens,
pheasants etc., and when without the wire work for pigeons etc. The feeding
trough is always closed to sparrows etc., as the weight of their bodies is not
sufficient to make the mechanism work. The advantages of this apparatus are as
follows:-
Only very little food is used, as none is uselessly strewed about, none is crushed
by being trodden on, and the food does not become damp. Furthermore no
attendance is required, and the birds or animals can at any time-as soon as they
are hungry-find dry food at the appointed place. This apparatus, in addition,
makes it possible to provide food in one apparatus for one distinct kind of animal
or bird, while at the same time others can be prevented from feeding there.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in ven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A feeding apparatus for birds small animals and the like, characterised by a

page_text: house a containing a trough 6 which is closed by wire netting c till the bird or
animal which is to be fed steps on to the stepping board g and consequently by the
weight of its body causes the wire netting c connected by the movable parts d to
the stepping board g to be pressed backwards, made so that other lighter birds or
animals can be prevented from feeding at the trough.
2. The use of a changeable wire netting h so used in the apparatus claimed in
the foregoing claim, that it may be made suitable for different kinds of birds and
animals.
1000
GEDGE & FEENY;
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.