Poultry cage structure

Claim 2

A cage structure for poultry and the like, comprising in combination, a plurality of cage rows mounted in steppedback, elevational array, each cage row including a plurality of cage end partitions, a separate, unitary L-shaped bottom/back member secured to the partitions and a separate, unitary L-shaped top/front member separated from the bottom/back member at the cage row top and front but secured to the end partitions to form a row of cages of rectangular cross-section, the L-shaped bottom/back member having a bottom element being extended forwardly from the cage row to define an egg collecting trough at the cage row front bottom, the L-shaped top/front member having a top element defining the forward portion only of the cage row top, the remaining portion of the cage row top being covered to prevent animal escape by the overhanging bottom/back member egg collecting trough of the cage row immediately above and to the rear, the L-shaped top/front member also having a front element defining the upper portion only of the cage row front, the cage structure further including feed trough means mounted to the cage row at the cage row lower front and defining the remaining portions of the cage row front.

Claim 3

A cage structure according to claim 1 wherein said top element of said top/front member extends less than halfway across the cage top, and said egg collecting trough extending from the cage row immediately above extends more than halfway across the cage top, the top element and the egg collecting trough thus completely defining the cage top.

Claim 4

A cage structure according to claim 1 including at least two interconnected front cage bars slidably mounted on said cage top/front member to form a gate member for permitting access to a cage in the cage row.

Claim 5

A cage stucture according to claim 1 including A-frame structure for mounting the plurality of cage rows in pyramided A-shaped elevational array.

Claim 6

A cage structure according to claim 4 including means for mounting each cage row on the A-frame structure with each cage row tipped forward to incline the cage bottom so as to urge eggs laid in the cage to roll forward along the tipped-forward cage bottom and into said egg collecting trough at the cage row lower front.

Claim 7

A cage structure according to claim 1 including waterer means mounted at the cage row front for supplying water to animals contained within the cage row to encourage animal droppings to be dropped out the cage row rear past lower cage rows without entering those lower cage rows.

Claim 8

A quickly-erected cage structure for poultry and the like, comprising, in combination, a plurality of cage rows in stepped-back, elevational array, each cage row including a separate but unitary prefabricated L-shaped bottom/back member and a separate but unitary prefabricated L-shaped top/front member joined together in use to form a row of cages of rectangular cross-section, the L-shaped bottom/back member bottom element being extended forwardly from the cage row to define an egg collecting trough at the cage row front/bottom, the L-shaped top/front member having a top element defining the forward portion only of the cage row top, the remaining portion of the cage row top being covered to prevent animal escape by the bottom/back member egg collecting trough of the cage row immediately above and to the rear, each cage row including a plurality of cage end partitions directly connected to said L-shaped top/front member and said L-shaped bottom/back member to form said cage rows, the cage structure further including mounting means for mounting the plurality of cage rows in said stepped elevational array with each row of rectangular cross-sectional cages tipped forward to incline the cage bottom and sides so as to urge eggs laid in the cage row to roll forward along the inclined cage row bottom and into the egg collecting means at the cage front.

Claim 9

A quickly-erected cage structure for poultry and the like, comprising, in combination, a plurality of cage rows in stepped-back, elevational array, each cage row including a separate but unitary prefabricated L-shaped bottom/back member and a separate but unitary prefabricated L-shaped top/front member joined together in use to form a row of cages of rectangular cross-section, the L-shaped bottom/back member bottom element being extended forwardly from the cage row to define an egg collecting trough at the cage row front/bottom, the L-shaped top/front member having a top element defining the forward portion only of the cage row top, the remaining portion of the cage row top being covered to prevent animal escape by the bottom/back member egg collecting trough of the cage row immediately above and to the rear, each cage row including a plurality of cage end partitions directly connected to said L-shaped top/front member and said L-shaped bottom/back member to form said cage rows, the cage structure further including mounting means for mounting the plurality of cage rows in said stepped elevational array with each row of rectangular cross-sectional cages tipped forward to incline the cage bottom and sides so as to urge eggs laid in the cage row to roll forward along the inclined cage row bottom and into the egg collecting means at the cage front.