Bird injection system

Claim 1

Apparatus for injecting a fluid dose through loose skin around a bird's neck, comprising a needle having a sharp end, a passage extending lengthwise through the needle, an outlet from the passage adjacent said sharp end and an inlet into the passage adjacent the other end of the needle, means to supply a fluid dose to said inlet, a structure supporting the needle, said structure having a portion extending around the needle and elongated toward one end of said portion, said elongated portion of the structure having a first exterior surface engageable with a bird's neck extending in the direction of elongation of said portion of the structure, and having a second exterior surface on a substantially opposite side of said portion of the structure, said exterior surfaces being spaced apart sufficiently for a fold of loose skin on a neck so engaged by the first exterior surface to be drawn across said end of said portion and over said second exterior surface, and means mounting the needle for lengthwise movement from a retracted position in which its sharp end is covered by said portion of the structure to an extended position in which said sharp end projects beyond said end of the said portion, said lengthwise movement of the needle being in a path which passes between said exterior surfaces closer to the first surface than to the second surface, and also extends in a lien which converges toward said first exterior surface as it progresses toward the extended position of the needle.