Patent Application
20070199516
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to a device and method for game bird chick survival, and more particularly to a device adapted to increase game bird survival after the chicks are released into the wild at about five weeks of age.
Various systems and devices used to develop a huntable population of game birds, such as quail, chukkars, Hungarian partridge, grouse, pheasants, and the like, are well known. Traditionally, the birds are pen-raised and then released in the wild. Unfortunately, quail that are pen-raised reportedly have as much as a 95% mortality rate in the week after released into the wild. Further, pen-raised birds are imprinted to the location where they are raised, which is usually hundreds of miles from the area of release. As a result, pen-raised birds feel no inner compulsion to remain in the release area and consider it home. Pen-raised birds thus also have high mortality rates when released into the wild.
To help decrease the mortality rate, feeding, and watering systems for adult wild upland game birds have been developed as generally described in Rayborn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,380. These devices are designed to permit the covey of about 20-30 pen-raised adult wild birds to become acclimated to the device over a period of 6-7 days. The adult birds are permitted to leave the feeding/watering enclosure during the day and then return for feeding/watering at specified times.
More recently, the present inventors developed a new approach to developing a huntable population of game birds using a device known as a surrogator device. The surrogator device is designed to provide necessary food, water, heat, and protection to the game chicks shortly after birth until about five (5) weeks of age. At that time, the chicks are released into the wild. The surrogator device protects the chicks during the time that they are most vulnerable. However, in contrast to adult-released birds, the chicks show an increased ability to retain their survival instincts and survive in the wild.
Conventional surrogator devices were comprised entirely of metal. These devices were relatively heavy. In addition, the metal attracted condensation, which increased the humidity in the air, causing many of the young chicks to perish prematurely. Thus, despite the advances associated with surrogate devices, there remains a need to develop an improved surrogator device.
The present invention is directed to a surrogate system for game chicks up to about five weeks of age. The surrogate system includes a brooding chamber, which shields the game chicks from the wind and rain. The brooding chamber has a food source, a water source, and a heat source for the game chicks. The surrogate system also has a free-range chamber that permits the chicks to be exposed to the wind and rain and helps them acclimate to their surroundings.
In one aspect of the present invention, the brooding chamber is separated from the free-range chamber by a laterally movable partition.
In another aspect of the present invention, the surrogate system has an improved food source. The food source comprises a floor plate, a stationary vertical plate, and a vertical plate movably positioned with respect to the stationary vertical plate to form an adjustable food opening between the movable vertical plate and floor plate.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the surrogate system has a gravity-fed water container attached to a distribution means for distributing water to said game chicks. In one embodiment, the distribution means comprises a conduit having a plurality of nipples for distributing water to the game chicks.
In yet a further aspect, the exterior of the surrogator system is molded or shaped to retain the water container so that it does not easily tip over.
In another aspect of the present invention, the heat source of the surrogator system is located above the game chicks in the central portion of said brooding chamber. A concave shield is located above the heat source to radiate the heat downwards, and a screen surrounds the heat source to protect the chicks from the heat source.
In another aspect, said brooding chamber and the free-range chamber each have floor screens to permit chick fecal matter to pass therethrough. The floor screens are removable so that a screen having suitably small openings may be used during the early part of the chicks' life when their feet are small.
In still another aspect, the surrogate system (e.g. side walls and top cover) are preferably comprised of plastic. The plastic is theorized to be resistant to condensation accumulation (e.g. compared to metal), have a high specific heat, and also have desirable insulative properties. It is theorized that such material will increase the game chick life and survival because the material will help prevent the chicks from being exposed to high humidity and even drops of dew falling on them.
In one aspect, the surrogate system is comprised of a roto-molded injection-molded, extrusion-molded, blow molded, resin transfer molded, or thermoformed plastic material.
Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
As used herein, the term “condensation” refers to the deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point.
As used herein, the term “quail” refers to several birds in the grouse family that live in North America. The best known of these are bobwhite quail. The protected feeding and watering system of the present invention will be described as it is used in conjunction with this type of quail.
The present invention is directed to an improved surrogator device used to develop a huntable population of quail and other game birds. The quail chicks are placed into the surrogator device at about 1 day to 2 weeks of age, preferably when the chicks are about 1 day to 1 week old. The chicks reside within the surrogator device until about they are about 3 to 7 weeks old, most preferably at about five weeks old. The chicks are then released into the wild. The surrogator device protects the chicks during the time that they are most vulnerable by providing shelter from predators, as well as providing a source of water, food, and heat. In contrast to adult-released birds, the chicks show an increased ability to retain their survival instincts and survive in the wild.
As shown in
There are several advantages associated with constructing the surrogator device 10 with a plastic material. The use of plastic (compared to conventional metal) significantly reduces the weight of the device, e.g. about a 42% reduction in weight. The plastic device also has desirable insulative properties that provide for more efficient heating of the device. In addition, a plastic device decreases the relative humidity in the brooding chamber 20 by decreasing the amount of condensation, which in turn is believed to decrease chick mortality associated with breathing air with a high humidity.
More specifically, it is theorized the heat source of the surrogator pulls in moisture from the surrounding air. This increases the humidity in the surrogator brooding chamber compared to that of the exterior air. Materials such as metals having high conductivity (low specific heat) have a high heat transfer rates, which results in condensation on the surface,o,f the surrogator chamber walls and cover and exacerbates this humidity problem. The use of insulative material, such as plastic, results a slower heat transfer rate and less condensation on the surfaces of the surrogator chamber. The chick mortality is therefore reduced because the chicks breathe air with decreased humidity and also decreases the risk that drops of condensation will fall on the chicks.
The surrogator device 10 is suitably shaped or sized for the chick population. In one aspect, the surrogator device is rectangular in shape and is sized to hold about 50 to 250 day old quail chicks until they reach about five weeks of age. The typical device is about 8 foot by 4 foot by about 18 inches tall.
An exemplary brooding chamber 20 is illustrated in
The brooding chamber 20 contains a floor screen 27 that permits bird fecal matter to pass through the screen and away from the chicks. The screen 27 is attached to the side walls 22 by one or more fasteners (e.g. screws), and one or more metal support bars 28 are added to help provide structural support for the screen. Alternatively, an elevated free-standing screen sized to fit the dimensions of the floor of the brooding chamber is placed within the side walls 22 of the brooding chamber 20.
The floor screen used in the device may vary during the chick surrogator cycle. During the first week of life, the floor screen preferably comprises a rubber or plastic mat having ¼-inch holes. This permits the fecal matter to fall through the matted floor screen. In addition, the holes are sufficiently small so that the small chick feet do not fall through the holes. After the first week, the floor screen 27 is preferably a wire screen having a mesh size of about ½ inch, and is made of a suitable weather-resistant material, such as a coated metal (e.g. galvanized metal) or plastic (e.g. fiberglass, polypropylene, nylon, etc.). In one aspect, the plastic floor is laid over the wire floor then removed at the end of five weeks.
The brooding chamber 20 is separated from the free-range chamber 30 by a movable partition 40, which is discussed more fully below.
The brooding chamber 20 optionally contains one or more cross-bars 60 that extend across opposite side walls 22 for added support and stability. The cross-bars may extend longitudinally (as shown) or transversely (not shown) within the brooding chamber.
The brooding chamber 20 is associated with a water source, heat source, and food source for the chicks. Each of these elements is important to ensure that the chicks have all of the necessities required for survival during the critical first five weeks of life.
The brooding chamber 20 has a water source associated therewith that provides water to the chicks during the first five weeks of life. Preferably, the water source comprises a container 52 having enough water to last about five weeks. The container may be manually refilled as needed. Typically, the water source comprises a 2 to 30 gallon container filled with water that is either gravity-fed or pumped to the chicks. The water container is preferably located above the chicks so that the water is gravity-fed and to help avoid sanitary issues associated with the water source being located on the surrogator floor. The water container 52 is also located on the exterior of the surrogator, preferably above the free-range chamber 30 (as opposed to the brooding chamber 20) so that the water is not undesirably heated by the heat source. In addition, by locating the water container above the free-range chamber, the top cover 25 may be readily moved or opened to provide access to the chicks in the brooding chamber 20.
In one aspect, the water container rests in a “seat” or “saddle” 35a on the top cover 35 of the free-range chamber 30. That is, the top cover of the free-range chamber is molded in a shape to complement the three-dimensional shape of the container 52 so that the container is removably retained thereby. For example, in the case of a barrel-shaped container, a saddle comprising a complementary concave depression is provided in the top cover 35 of the free-range chamber 30.
The water source includes a distribution means for distributing the water to the individual chicks. In one aspect, the distribution means is a trough or other receptacle for holding water. In another aspect, the water is distributed to the chicks using a pipe, hose, or other conduit 55 with a plurality of nipples 57 suitably spaced along the conduit. The nipples are colored (e.g. red, silver) in a manner to attract the young chick's attention. A float 56 may be used to regulate the amount of water provided to the chicks. Water from the container 52 enters the float and exits into the distribution means. The float contains a floatable plug that blocks the opening where the water enters the float. As the chicks drink the water, the water level in the float is lowered so that the floatable plug is correspondingly lowered so that water flows through the opening where the water enters the float. As water travels through the opening and into the float, the water level raises, which cause the floatable plug to again block the opening.
To help ensure that water is available along the entire length of the distribution conduit 55, the distribution conduit is clear or contains measurement means at the distal end relative to the water inlet. As shown in
The heat source in the brooding chamber 20 provides heat to the chicks, which has been found to significantly decrease the chick mortality rate. Indeed, in most instances, the chicks will die without the heat source. Suitable heating devices include conventional burners (kerosene, propane, wood, and the like), solar or electrical-resistance element types. The heat source is preferably located above the chicks to provide radiant heat in a more uniform manner. In addition, the heat source is preferably centrally located within the brooding chamber by one or more support bars or rods 65 extending from the side walls or top cover (lid) of the brooding chamber. The chicks may move closer to the central portion of the brooding chamber as they get colder.
An exemplary heating source is illustrated in
The temperature of the device is controlled by the thermostat. The thermostat is manually adjusted between 70 and 90 degrees ° F., or is automatically controlled using a programmable thermostat. The temperature inside the brooding chamber is preferably warmer during the first part of the surrogator cycle and then is reduced. For example, during the first week, the temperature is preferably at about 90° F., the second week the temperature is maintained at about 80° F., and the third week, the temperature is maintained at about 70° F. The temperatures are preferably measured underneath and in close proximity to the heat shield.
The food source contains food for the chicks, which includes chick crumbs, dry egg food, small seeds, and even insects' parts. The food source is preferably a trough or tray 80 that is permanently or removably attached to the side wall of the brooding chamber 12. The tray is sized to hold about 10 to 100 pounds, most preferably about 40 to 60 pounds of chick food when full. If necessary, the top cover 25 of the brooding chamber 20 may be removed to gain access to the trough so that it may be refilled. The food source is positioned close to the bottom of the surrogator so that the chicks may readily obtain the food contained therein.
An exemplary food trough 80 is illustrated in
The free-range chamber 30 has dimensions of about 4×4 feet. As shown in
The top cover 35 of the free-range chamber 30 also includes a large opening for removal of any chicks that have perished from the free-range chamber. The opening is covered by a gate or door 36 that is hinged on one end. The gate 36 is removably secured to the top cover using a latch or hook
The free-range chamber 30 also contains a floor screen 37 similar to the screen 27 of the brooding chamber 20 designed to permit bird fecal matter to pass through the screen and away from the chicks. The screen 37 is attached to the vertical walls 32 by one or more fasteners, and one or more support bars 38 are optionally added to help provide structural support for the screen. Alternatively, an elevated free-standing screen sized to fit the dimensions of the free-range chamber of the surrogator device may be used.
A movable partition separates 40 the brooding chamber 20 from the free-range chamber 30. The partition 40 is a metal or plastic screen (e.g. a perforated metal with an ⅛-inch opening throughout) which is removed from the device through a partition opening 42 adjacent the brooding chamber side wall 22 and free-range chamber side wall 32. The partition moves laterally (side-to side) through the partition opening 42.
In use, the chicks are introduced into the brooding chamber 20 shortly after birth, preferably on about day 1 or day 2. The partition 40 is moved to close off the brooding chamber 20 from the free-range chamber 30 such that the chicks remain in the brooding chamber for about the first week after being born. As such, the chicks become familiarized as to the source of food, water, and heat. The chicks are also not exposed to the elements in the free-range chamber 30 during this fragile period of life. When the chicks are about one week of age, the partition 40 is removed so that the chicks may freely move within the entire surrogate device enclosure and imprint to their surroundings.
The partition 40 is also useful for maintenance of the surrogator device 10. For example, when the chicks are about three weeks old, the heating source is preferably removed. During this maintenance, all of the chicks are moved to the free-range chamber and retained therein by the partition 40. The heat source is removed to help keep the birds from injuring themselves on the heating unit hardware as they grow, to prevent them from attempting to eat the ceramic shield 78, and to provide more room to move in the device itself.
Although the surrogator device of the present invention has been described in conjuction with quail chicks generally, it will be appreciated that the surrogator device may be sized to fit other wild game birds. Further, multiple surrogator devices may be used at the same time in order to increase the number of quail chicks being raised. In addition, the five-week cycle may be repeated multiple times during a season.
The terms “front”, “rear”, “side”, “top”, “bottom” and so forth have been herein merely for convenience to describe the present invention and its parts as oriented in the drawings. It is to be understood, however, that these terms are in no way limiting to the invention.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objectives herein-above set forth, together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention. Further, since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
