GB2412559A

GB2412559A - A creep feeder

Info

Publication number: GB2412559A
Application number: GB0506412A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Veitch; Patrick Whyte
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-30
Filing date: 2005-03-30
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-30
Also published as: GB0506412D0; IE20050184A1; IES20040208A2; GB2412559B

Abstract

A creep feeder 1 for foals has a moulded plastics body 2, which incorporates a feed reservoir 3 mounted on ground engaging support legs 4. A number of feeding troughs 6 receive feed from the reservoir 3. Each feeding trough 6 is mounted behind an access window 7 which is sized to allow through passage of a foals head for feeding at the trough 6 whilst at the same time preventing full grown horses from gaining access to the feed trough 6. Each feeding trough 6 is located between a pair of the support legs 4 thus forming separate feeding stations at each trough 6. The feed reservoir 3 may include separate compartments (5, fig.7) which are connected to a feed trough 6 via an outlet (16, fig. 7). An adjustable shutter panel (26, fig. 7) may be mounted across the access window 7 to adjust its size, and/or a closure flap (35, fig. 7) may be provided to close the access window 7. The legs 4 may be filled with water for increased stability.

Description

"A creep feeder" This invention relates to a creep feeder, and in

particular to a creep feeder for foals.

In the horse breeding industry it is often desirable to feed a foal with a particular feed mix to promote strong growth and health in the foal. As the foal is usually kept with its mare, the mare will frequently eat the feed material intended for the foal who suffers as a result. The present invention is directed towards overcoming this 1 o problem.

In the prior art GB 2367231 and US 4258665 each disclose an adjustable foal feed trough with bars which can be mounted across the mouth of the trough to restrict access, preventing larger animals feeding at the trough. Another foal feeder is disclosed in GB 2275168 which comprises a feed bucket support mounted behind an upright barrier with an access opening sized so only a foal can insert its head through the access opening to feed, larger horses being excluded. In US 6601537 there is disclosed a barrier for sectioning off portion of a stall or the like for defining a separate foal feeding area. The barrier has an entry gateway through which a foal 2 0 can walk into the restricted foal feeding area. Larger horses cannot pass through the gateway in the barrier. Unfortunately these prior art devices are somewhat labour intensive as the trough needs to be filled regularly with feed and also the bars restricting access to the trough or feeding container also interfere with filling of the trough. This problem is particularly acute on stud farms where relatively large 2 5 numbers of foals are being reared.

The present invention is directed towards providing an improved creep feeder which overcomes these problems.

3 0 According to the invention there is provided a creep feeder for a foal, including a feed reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, a feeding trough connected to the outlet of the feed reservoir for reception of feed material from the reservoir, means for delivery of feed material from the feed reservoir to the feed trough, and feed regulating means for restricting access to the feeding trough so that only foals can feed at the trough - 2 - and larger horses are prevented from gaining access to feed material in the feed trough. Advantageously the feeder of the invention prevents full grown horses gaining access to feed intended for foals. Also a supply of feed can be stored in the reservoir to replenish the trough. It is not necessary to directly access the trough for filling the trough.

In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of feed troughs are provided to form a number of spaced-apart foal feeding stations, each trough being connected to an associated feed reservoir for filling the trough.

In another embodiment each trough and associated reservoir are supported on downwardly depending ground engaging support legs to provide a free standing creep feeder.

In another embodiment each foal feeding station is arranged between a pair of legs which form a separation or barrier between the feeding stations, the legs projecting outwardly at each side of the feeding trough of the feeding station.

In another embodiment ballast means is provided to allow adjusting the weight of the 2 0 feeder for improved stability. Preferably ballast tanks are provided for reception of liquid ballast such as water. Conveniently the legs are hollow, an interior of each leg forming a ballast tank.

In another embodiment the feed reservoir associated with each feed trough is 2 5 mounted above the feed trough, a lower end of the reservoir being inclined downwardly towards the feed trough for delivery of feed material from the reservoir towards the feed trough. Preferably the reservoir is upwardly open, being closed by a cover.

3 0 In one embodiment of the invention the feeding trough is mounted behind an access window sized to allow through passage of a foals head for feeding at the feeding trough.

In another embodiment means is provided for adjusting the size of the access window.

In another embodiment a shutter panel is mounted across the access window and is movable between a number of mounting positions to adjust the size of the access window. Preferably the shutter panel has an arcuate portion extending across the access window.

In another embodiment a closure flap is hingedly mounted at the access window to close the access window. At the same time the hinge mounting is such that a foal can hinge the flap into an open position to gain access to the feed trough.

In a further embodiment the closure flap is biased into a closed position, being pivotable into an open position against bias. The closure flap will advantageously help to keep out birds, vermin and the like and also repel rain. At the same time a foal has ready access to the feed material in the feed trough. Preferably the closure flap is hinged about its top edge.

In another embodiment a lower end of the reservoir is inclined downwardly towards the feed trough for delivery of feed material towards the feed trough. This provides a gravity feed of material from the reservoir into the feed trough. As material is eaten by the foal from the feed trough it will be replenished by further feed material falling into the feed trough from the feed reservoir.

In another embodiment the creep feeder has ground engaging legs which are hollow, 2 5 an interior of each of said legs forming a water ballast tank. Thus conveniently each leg can be filled with water for improved stability.

In another embodiment a drain is provided on the feed trough to allow runoff of water from the feed trough.

Conveniently each foal feeding station is arranged between a pair of legs which form a separation or barrier between the feeding stations. Thus advantageously a foal is provided with a certain amount of protection when feeding at the feed trough.

Furthermore, if a number of foals are feeding at the creep feeder at the same time - 4 they will not interfere with each other as they are separated by the legs between the feeding stations.

In another embodiment a separate feed reservoir is provided for each feeding station.

In a further embodiment the creep feeder is portable. To facilitate this lifting handles may be provided on the creep feeder. Conveniently also the creep feeder may be manufactured in plastics material so that it is lightweight and readily portable. At the same time the water ballast tanks may be provided in the legs if required to provide any necessary stability.

For convenience in transport or storage the creep feeder may be adapted to allow a,,' stacking of a number of the creep feeders together. In another embodiment there is provided a creep feeder comprising a plurality of feed troughs forming a number of spaced-apart feeding stations, each trough being.,2; connected to an associated feed reservoir for filling the trough, feed regulating means, . for restricting access to the feeding trough to young animals, each trough and the '; associated reservoir being supported on downwardly depending ground engaging '.

support legs to provide a free standing creep feeder, each feeding station being arranged between a pair of legs which form a separation or barrier between the feeding stations, the legs projecting outwardly at each side of the feeding trough of the feeding station.

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a creep feeder according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the creep feeder; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the creep feeder; Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view of the creep feeder; Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned elevational view of the creep feeder; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the creep feeder; Fig. 7 is another view similar to Fig. 5 of the creep feeder; Fig. 8 is another view similar to Fig. 6 of the creep feeder; Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a lid for a reservoir of the creep feeder; and Figs. 10 to 22 are various detail views showing component parts used in the. ' . creep feeder. ' ; '

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a creep feeder according to the,,2, invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The creep feeder 1 has a,,, moulded plastics body 2 which incorporates a feed reservoir 3 mounted on outwardly ' ' ' and downwardly extending groundengaging legs 4. The feed reservoir 3 has four 2 0 separate compartments 5 each of which connects to an associated feeding trough 6.

Each feeding trough 6 is mounted behind an access window 7 which is sized to allow through passage of a foals head for feeding at the feeding trough 6 whilst at the same time preventing full grown horses from gaining access to the feeding trough 6.

It will be noted that a feeding trough 6 is located between each pair of legs 4, thus forming a number, in this case four, of spaced-apart separate feeding stations indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

As is best seen in Fig. 5 each feed reservoir compartment 5 has a sloped bottom end which is inclined downwardly and outwardly towards an outlet 16 for delivery of 3 0 feed material under gravity into the associated feed trough 6. An upper end 17 of the feed reservoir compartment 5 is open to provide an inlet for filling the feed reservoir 5. A cover 18 (Fig. 6) sits on, engages and closes the open tops of all the feed reservoir compartments 5. - 6

Each feed trough 6 forms a curved bowl at a lower end of a feed chamber 20. The window 7 is a generally U-shaped opening having upright sides 21, 22 and a curved lower end 23. A drain channel 24 extending downwardly from the lower end 23 and communicating with the feed trough 6 allows drainage of water from the feed trough 6. An adjustable shutter panel 26 is mounted on the window surround 28, having a number of vertically spaced-apart mounting through holes 29 engagable by a bolt with a hand wheel 30, the bolt screwing into associated threaded sockets 31 in each window surround 28. The shutter panel 26 can be moved up or down to adjust the size of the window 7 opening. An arcuate portion 32 of the panel 26 bridges the 1 0 window 7.

Referring in particular to Fig. 7 and Figs. 19 to 22 a closure flap 35 is hinged at its upper end 36 and closes the window 7 from within the feed chamber 20. This closure flap 35 hangs in a normally closed position, held under gravity bias, however a foal 1 5 can push the flap 35 inwardly to gain access to the feed trough 6, the flap 35 hinging about a horizontal axis at a top edge of the flap 35. '.

Each leg 4 extends outwardly and downwardly from the feed reservoir 3 and has a step 40 at the top of the leg 4 to provide access to the cover 18. Anti-slip grips 41 are 2 0 provided on the steps 40. All of the legs 4 are hollow. A filling opening 44 is provided on one or more of the legs 4 at the step 40 for filling the legs 4 with water for ballast to increase the stability of the creep feeder 1 in use. Draining outlets 46 are provided at a bottom of each leg 4. A rubber bung 47 is provided for each outlet opening 46 and for the filling opening 44.

Lifting handles 50 (see in particular Figs. 4 and 5) are provided on an underside of the feed reservoir 3 between the legs to facilitate carrying the creep feeder 1. A dome 51 is provided in a bottom of the feed reservoir 3 to facilitate stacking of a number of creep feeders 1.

In use the creep feeder 1 may be mounted in a field for example and the legs 4 filled with water for increased stability. Each feed reservoir compartment 5 is provided with feed material for foals. A foal can insert his head through the window 7 pushing back the flap 35 for access to the feed trough 6 for feeding at the feed trough 6. As material is eaten by the foal additional material falls through the outlet 16 into the feed trough 6 from the associated feed reservoir compartment 5.

It will be appreciated that the sizing of the window 7 is important to restrict access to the feed to foals. Suitable sizes are indicated on the drawings.

When empty of water ballast the creep feeder is readily portable.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be,, varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims. ' :' :''' ' ' - 8

Claims

1. A creep feeder for a foal, including a feed reservoir having an inlet and an outlet, a feeding trough connected to the outlet of the feed reservoir for reception of feed material from the reservoir, means for delivery of feed material from the feed reservoir to the feed trough, and feed regulating means for restricting access to the feeding trough so that only foals can feed at the trough and larger horses are prevented from gaining access to feed material in the feed trough. . . . 10: ',,.

2. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of feed troughs are '' ' provided to form a number of spaced-apart foal feeding stations, each trough, being connected to an associated feed reservoir for filling the trough. ....

3. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each trough and associated reservoir are supported on downwardly depending ground engaging support legs to provide a free standing creep feeder.

4. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 3 wherein each foal feeding station is arranged between a pair of legs which form a separation or barrier between the feeding stations, the legs projecting outwardly at each side of the feeding trough of the feeding station.

5. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein ballast means is 2 5 provided to allow adjusting the weight of the feeder for improved stability.

6. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 5 wherein ballast tanks are provided for reception of liquid ballast.

3 0

7. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 6 wherein the legs are hollow, an interior of each leg forming a ballast tank.

8. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the feed reservoir associated with each feed trough is mounted above the feed trough, a lower - 9 end of the reservoir being inclined downwardly towards the feed trough for delivery of feed material from the reservoir towards the feed trough.

9. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the feed reservoir is upwardly open, being closed by a cover.

10. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the feeding trough is mounted behind an access window sized to allow through passage of a foals head for feeding at the feeding trough. . . 10, ''

1 1. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 10 wherein means is provided for ' ' ' adjusting the size of the access window. , ,

12. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 11 wherein a shutter panel is mounted across the access window and is movable between a number of mounting.

positions to adjust the size of the access window. .' : ':

13. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 12 wherein the shutter panel has an arcuate portion extending across the access window.

14. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a closure flap is hingedly mounted at the access window to close the access window.

15. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 14 wherein the closure flap is biased into a 2 5 closed position, being pivotable into an open position against bias.

16. A creep feeder as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the closure flap is hinged about a top edge of the closure flap.

3 0

17. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a drain is provided on the feed trough to allow runoff of water from the feed trough.

18. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a separate feed reservoir is provided for each feeding station. -

19. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the creep feeder is

portable.

20. A creep feeder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the creep feeder is adapted to allow stacking of a number of the creep feeders together.

21. A creep feeder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10. :' :''' 8

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