Animal feeding apparatus

Abstract

Gravity flow animal feed dispensing apparatus includes feed supply tubes depending from a bottom wall of a feed storage hopper supported by a frame elevated above ground level. Feed dispensing tubes or a plate are connected to the feed supply tubes and flow control baffles and/or a flow control valve limit the dispensation of feed. A wildfowl embodiment of the apparatus includes an access control cage disposed about the feed dispensing member. The orientation of the feed supply tubes and dispensing tubes may be varied to provide access to feed by animals of various sizes and to provide for placement of the apparatus adjacent a confinement wall or fence.

1 . An apparatus for unattended feeding of hoofed animals, comprising:
 a hopper for receiving and storing feed;   at least one feed tube coupled to the hopper and having a feed supply portion and a muzzle receiving portion, the feed tube being configured such that gravity causes the feed to move from the hopper through the feed supply portion and accumulate in the muzzle receiving portion; and   a frame supporting the hopper such that the muzzle receiving portion is at a muzzle height of a mature hoofed animal.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the feed supply portion has an upper end and a lower end, the lower end extending laterally from the upper end; and   the muzzle receiving portion being connected to and extending generally horizontally from the lower end of the feed supply portion.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the feed supply portion forms an angle between forty and fifty degrees with a horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein an upper portion of the muzzle receiving portion extends beyond a lower portion of the muzzle receiving portion, the feed accumulating in the lower portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle receiving portion defines an opening, and further comprising a dam extending from a lower portion of the muzzle receiving portion proximate the opening, the dam blocking at least some of the feed from flowing out of the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the muzzle receiving portion defines an opening, and further comprising a baffle extending into the feed tube from an upper inside surface of the feed tube, the baffle being disposed between the opening and the hopper. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the baffle is disposed proximate a juncture of the feed supply portion and the muzzle receiving portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle receiving portion defines an opening, and further comprising:
 a dam extending from a lower portion of the muzzle receiving portion proximate the opening, the dam blocking at least some of the feed from flowing out of the opening; and   a baffle extending into the feed tube from an upper inside surface of the feed tube, the baffle being disposed between the dam and the hopper.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle receiving portion defines an enlarged diameter section for receiving larger muzzles of larger animals. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feed tube comprises at least three feed tubes spaced apart and depending from a bottom wall of the hopper. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an access ladder connected to the hopper to provide access to fill the hopper. 
     
     
         12 . A gravity flow feeder for game animals, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hopper for containing feed, the hopper having a generally frustoconical bottom wall;   a support structure supporting the hopper;   a plurality of feed tubes depending from the bottom wall, the feed tubes each having an angled feed supply portion and a muzzle receiving portion, the muzzle receiving portion defining an opening; and   wherein the feed tubes are configured to permit gravity to cause the feed to accumulate in the muzzle receiving portion without flowing out of the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The feeder of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the feed supply portion has an upper end and a lower end, the lower end extending radially from the upper end; and   the muzzle receiving portion being connected to and extending generally horizontally from the lower end of the feed supply portion.   
     
     
         14 . The feeder of  claim 13 , wherein the feed supply portion forms an angle between forty and fifty degrees with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         15 . The feeder of  claim 13 , wherein an upper portion of the muzzle receiving portion extends beyond a lower portion of the muzzle receiving portion, the feed accumulating in the lower portion. 
     
     
         16 . The feeder of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a dam extending from a lower portion of the muzzle receiving portion proximate the opening, the dam blocking at least some of the feed from flowing out of the opening; and   a baffle extending into the feed tube from an upper inside surface of the feed tube, the baffle being disposed between the dam and the hopper.   
     
     
         17 . A gravity flow feeder for game animals, comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hopper for containing feed, the hopper having a generally frustoconical bottom wall;   a support structure supporting the hopper;   at least three feed tubes circumferentially spaced apart and depending from the bottom wall, the feed tubes each having an angled feed supply portion and a muzzle receiving portion, the muzzle receiving portion defining an opening; and   wherein the feed tubes are configured to permit gravity to cause the feed to accumulate in the muzzle receiving portion without flowing out of the opening.   
     
     
         18 . The feeder of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the feed supply portion has an upper end and a lower end, the lower end extending radially from the upper end; and   the muzzle receiving portion being connected to and extending generally horizontally from the lower end of the feed supply portion.   
     
     
         19 . The feeder of  claim 18 , wherein the feed supply portion forms an angle between forty and fifty degrees with respect to horizontal. 
     
     
         20 . The feeder of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a dam extending from a lower portion of the muzzle receiving portion proximate the opening, the dam blocking at least some of the feed from flowing out of the opening; and   a baffle extending into the feed tube from an upper inside surface of the feed tube, the baffle being disposed between the dam and the hopper.