GB2569613A - A game bird brooding house - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a game bird brooding house. The game bird brooding house has plural walls 2, 10, 11 formed of a frame 3 and boards. A roof 1 made of flexible roofing material is arranged over the plural walls to create an enclosed space. The flexible roofing material is attached to the frame under tension.

Description

A GAME BIRD BROODING HOUSE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a game bird brooding house.

Background

Increasing numbers of people enjoy game bird hunting.

It is best for the birds and sport for them to be reared effectively and humanely. Typically this is within a game bird brooding house.

However known game bird brooding houses are inefficient, uneconomical and timeconsuming to erect and dismantle, and also provide an unhealthy environment for the birds as either passage of air through the house is limited or liable to cause unhealthy and undesirable draughts.

Prior Art

CN 104 542 350 (LI et al) discloses a chicken brooding house. The chicken brooding house comprises a house body with a rectangular roof; two rows of shelves are arranged side by side inside the house body and provided with brooding cages with the bottoms in a mesh design; the inside of every brooding cage is provided with separating units at certain intervals, which are made of plastic nets, to form brooding units; the inside of every brooding unit is provided with a feedstuff box and a water box; the outsides of the two rows of brooding cages are sealed by thermal insulating layers; a footway between the two rows of brooding cages is provided with a warming furnace. The simple chicken brooding house can be built only through simple materials and accordingly is low in cost and simple in operation; according to the built chicken brooding house, the shelves are appropriate in height, so that a breeder can conveniently perform operations in a standing or sitting state; brooding through the separate brooding unit facilitates batch management; chicken live on hole nets, waste such as manure and the like can fall under the hole nets and accordingly is convenient to clean, and further the brooding environment can be greatly improved, the morbidity of the chicken can be reduced obviously, and high brooding effects can be obtained.

CN 2013 03 542 (XIQUAN) discloses a portable henhouse which is applicable to chicken raising in livestock husbandry, in particular to chicken raising in typhoonprone areas. The henhouse in prior art is constructed through brick-concrete structure; the interior of henhouse in prior art becomes very damp in rainy days or when typhoon strikes; meanwhile, the damp henhouse is hard to be dried due to lack of sunshine; the utility model adopts canvas instead of bricks and cement concrete; meanwhile, canvas on periphery can be disassembled and folded upwards so as to solve the humidity problem. In the utility model, wood structure, foundation structure and canvas structure are reasonably connected and combined together; the utility model is characterized in that the bottom end of the wood structure is combined with the foundation structure; the canvas structure connects the wood structure with the foundation structure reasonably so as to integrate the three structures into a whole. The portable henhouse has the beneficial effects that the loss rate of chicken raising is reduced to the lowest level, the work efficiency and enterprise economical benefit are improved; meanwhile, the structure is firm, the construction is simple, the cost is economical; the portable henhouse can be used for long time and has no need to be rebuilt in years.

EP 1 483 959 (LE BIHAN) discloses a device for rearing chicks of poultry or game birds, formed by a structure comprising a framework, outer walls, a central roof roof panels which are articulated according to substantially horizontal axes, and pivot upwards in the open position in order to provide the breeder with access to the interior of the structure without his needing to enter into it, characterised in that the framework comprises vertical structural tubes which are situated at the angles, and to which the outer walls are connected by being fitted in a detachable manner, at least one of the vertical structural tubes being open at its upper end for the introduction into it of the food which is distributed at its lower end in the form of a feeding trough, and the roof panels cover in the lowered position the walls and the structural tubes.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a game bird brooding house, comprising plural walls, formed of a frame and boards, and a roof made of flexible roofing material, wherein the material is attached to the frame under tension.

In some embodiments the house comprises at least one ventilation perforation. In some embodiments the walls comprise plural ventilation perforations, for example in opposing walls.

In some embodiments the material comprises a waterproof material.

In some embodiments the roof comprises one or more rigid boards.

In some embodiments the frame(s) comprise aluminium or metal frames, formed of plural substantially horizontal and/or vertical members.

The boards may comprise insulation boards, or boards made of an insulative component.

In some embodiments the roofing material is strapped to the frame(s) under tension, using webbing straps or similar. Such webbing straps may be located at corners of the house in use.

In some embodiments the roof comprises an elongated bar portion, which portion may be arranged along one or more sides so as to provide a bottom edge to the roof, and maintain rigidity at such edge for the roof.

In this way in some embodiments the portion may be arranged to strap to the comers or frame, and/or strap to intermediate points on sides of the frame.

The straps may be arranged to pass over or through the house or roof, for example passing through sleeves in the roofing material.

The house may have a door in one side wall, or more than one door. In some embodiments the house may comprise more than one opening, for example comprising a door and a hatch, which hatch may be arranged to access the interior of the house for feeding, maintenance or bird removal, and which door is arranged for user entrance.

These openings, and the ventilation perforations, may be arranged to be moved from a first open position to a second closed position.

The ventilation perforations may comprise a perforated cover, for example a mesh or grille, which enable entrance and exit of air, but limit exit of birds.

In some embodiments the house comprises a floor. This floor may be attached to the walls.

In some embodiments the house is assembled utilising interlocking sections, which sections may be consolidated into position using connectors. Such connectors may comprise displaceable pins.

In preferred embodiments the house are very quickly and easily assembled by only two users in a matter of minutes whereas known units can take up to four times as long to construct. In addition or the alternative the house of the present invention is far more energy efficient, provide more thermal efficiency.

In some embodiments the walls and/or roof may comprise insulation board, which board may be incorporated between parts of the frame. The frame may comprise box section members of material arranged to avoid rust or weather damage, for example galvanised steel. Such boards may be fitted into the frame in use or at manufacture, for example using self-tapping or cutting screws.

In this way the house provides an easy assemble unit that allows for required airflow to birds within the house, without permitting any direct drafts onto the birds which can cause issues. This enables a far more efficient way to brood day old game birds in a controlled environment by keeping a regular temperature.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a front end view of a first embodiment of the house according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a rear end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 show side views of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figures 6 and 7 show sketch views of a second embodiment of the house according to the present invention in use, from the exterior and interior respectively;

Figure 8 shows a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, with tensioning ties in place;

Figures 9 show sectional views of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 10 shows a detail view of an elongated bar portion and the house side as shown in the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

And

Figure 11 shows a detail in plan view of a comer of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is generally shown a game bird brooding house

99, comprising plural walls 2, 10, 11, 21, formed of a frame 3 and boards, and a roof made of flexible roofing material, wherein the material is attached to the frame under tension.

In particular reference to the embodiment pictured there is shown an embodiment of the house comprising frames 3 forming a skeleton of 25x25 and 25x50mm galvanised steel box sections.

This enables it to be erected very quickly and easily and the boards comprise 9mm marine plywood sheets, which are slotted into the frame. IN other embodiments the boards may comprise insulation boards.

The house comprises two long side walls 10, 11, 4800mm long and 660mm high, and two end walls, formed with straight lengths to form a squared off domed top created by spaced apart lateral spans 38.

In the interior of the house, small internal braces 39 support the angles of the span 38 which are otherwise continuous and unsupported from one low side wall to the other providing the support for insulation sheets 19 between the spans 38. The spans are inverted U shapes.

This enables a central taller area, for users to stand in, and sufficient space at ground level for many birds, as well as ensuring that the heat within the house is concentrated and not liable to excess convection to dissipate away from the birds in use.

In the second embodiment the distal end wall comprises two side frame members, and two intermediate upright frame members, which are joined at a low height by a lateral frame member, defining the top of a hatch, where the bottom of the hatch opening is the lower edge frame member of the end wall.

In the second embodiment the distal end wall comprises two sides, and four intermediate upright frame members, two full length 34 joined with a long lateral frame member 35, and two intermediate 43, below the lateral member 35 defining the hatch 22, where the bottom of the hatch opening is the lower edge frame member of the end wall and the hatch 22 is enabled to slide upwards on the uprights 43.

The proximal end wall has four intermediate upright frame members 36, 63, the central two 36 providing the sides of the door opening, with lateral frame members providing the bottom and top edge of the door opening; wherein the bottom edge 37 of the door opening is elevated from the ground, so as to limit undesirable exit of birds.

Two ventilation openings 9 are located approximately halfway up the door opening between the successive uprights 63 and the door upright frame members 36. This enables through-passage of air, at a height away from the animals.

In use, the two end walls are held in place by the connecting side walls (one each side) each secured with a pin at each end, wherein the frame is then put into place and the end walls are tensioned by connecting galvanized steel cables which are tensioned to secure the frame up prior to installing the insulation sheets and roof tarpaulin, the roof tarpaulin is then tensioned down using ratchet connectors and webbing straps.

In this way once the walls are all interlocked the roof is installed by placing the roofing material 1 over the walls, and the roof is pulled together with tensioning ties 41, through hoops 42 depending from the spans of the roof, to form a weather a storm resistant rearing unit.

The house design, shape and construction is envisaged to reduce mortality from birds rucking due to poor heat transfer or loss. Additionally or alternatively gas usage is reduced from brooder heaters (not included) by up to 20%.

In addition or the alternative the sealed nature of the house of the present invention provided by the walls contacting the ground and the flexible tensioned roof gives a more user friendly unit due to the additional head height and provides greater levels of bio-security to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases in crops and livestock, quarantined pests, invasive alien species compared to a convention wooden brooder hut construction.

The roof in the pictured embodiment comprises a waterproof tarpaulin roofing material with elongated bar portions comprising two sleeves 14 for receipt of galvanised steel poles 4, such as scaffolding poles, which are located in use alongside the top of the side walls and pull the material down to form a sealed unit.

The roof is fully constructed of insulated sheet 19 which then is covered by custom made, easy fit tarpaulin roofing material 1 which is secured in place by nylon (RTM) weatherproof straps 12 wound onto cleats 13 at the corners of the frame, and straps 20 wound round cleats 23 midway along the sides.

The corner straps 12 are located at the end of the sleeves 14, and intermediate the sides, and are arranged to secure on the cleats or hooks on the side corner frame members and side bottom edge frame members respectively.

The house is used by placing on a level surface which can be earth based in an area where grass runs can be placed to the one end so the young birds can acclimatize to the outside world.

With reference to Figure 10 there is shown a sectional view of a detail of a side wall and roof, showing the following parts:

Roofing material 1

Roofing material sleeve 14

Elongate bar 4

Roofing insulation sheet 19

Side panel member (galvanised steel box section) 75

Insulation board 73

With reference to Figure 11 there is shown a corner detail of the constructed house according to the present invention, wherein the following parts are shown:

Galvanised steel angle iron channel to accept insulation board- roof 61

Galvanised steel side panel 67

Galvanised steel angle 62

Galvanised steel box section 63 with a drilled hole 68 to locate loose latch pin

Loose latch pin 69

Galvanised steel box section 65

Galvanised steel end panel (outer face) 66

Galvanised steel end panel (inner face) 64

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing 5 from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims (1)

1. A game bird brooding house, comprising plural walls, formed of a frame and boards, and a roof made of flexible roofing material, wherein the material is 5 attached to the frame under tension.

Intellectual Property Office

Application No: GB1721592.2

Claims searched: 1

Examiner: Mr Tom Harris

Date of search: 6 September 2018

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17

Documents considered to be relevant:

Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1 McGregor Polytunnels Ltd, 2013, Mobile Pheasant Brooder House, mcgregorpolytunnels.co.uk, [online], Available from: http://www.mcgregorpolytunnels.co.uk/product/pheasant-brooder-house [Accessed 06/09/2018] See images and description. Also see other linked pages for different bird types (links at left of page).

Categories:

X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and/or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of before the filing date of this invention. same category. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.

Field of Search:

Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKC^X :

International Classification:

Subclass Subgroup Valid From AO IK 0031/19 01/01/2006 AO IK 0067/02 01/01/2006

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