Method and system for feeding an animal a consumable feed product and vegetation from a container

Abstract

Consumable feed products and vegetation are delivered to animals using a single container in which the container holds the feed product and is used to deliver the feed and which includes ungerminated seeds embedded in the container body. The seeds are caused to germinate and produce vegetation from the container body, and the germinated seeds and/or vegetation is fed to the animal. Multiple containers may be used simultaneously so that while the consumable feed product from one container is used to feed an animal, another container may be used to grow vegetation or deliver vegetation to the animal. Confined birds such as poultry and chicks may benefit from ingesting feed and vegetation produced from such containers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of feeding an animal, the method comprising:
 delivering a feed product to the animal from a container holding the feed product, wherein the container comprises a body including ungerminated seeds embedded in and at least partially immersed beneath a surface of the body; and   feeding the animal vegetation produced from the seeds of the container body by leaving the container body in an outdoor feeding area such that the seeds germinate to produce the vegetation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating the container body with water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein treating the container body with water comprises soaking or immersing the container body in a vessel holding the water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein treating the container body with water is performed after the animal consumes the feed product. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removing a protective layer from the container body before treating the container body with water. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising breaking down and/or flattening the container body before treating the container body with water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the container body is treated with water over a period of about 7 to about 14 days. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises a germination agent. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is a confined animal. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a bottle or a bag. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises paper, cardboard, and/or a cellulose-based pulp. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ungerminated seeds each have a biodegradable outer coating. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feed product comprises pelleted feed, seeds, and/or cereal grains. 
     
     
         14 . A method of feeding an animal, the method comprising:
 delivering a feed product to the animal from a container holding the feed product, wherein the container comprises a body including ungerminated seeds embedded in and at least partially immersed beneath a surface of the body, wherein the ungerminated seeds are adapted to be caused to be germinated.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising delivering the animal germinated seeds or vegetation produced from the container body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ungerminated seeds are adapted to be caused to be germinated by being embedded in at least one germination agent included within the container body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising treating the container body with water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein treating the container body with water comprises soaking or immersing the container body after the animal consumes the feed product. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the container body comprises paper, cardboard, and/or a cellulose-based pulp. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the feed product comprises pelleted feed, seeds, cereal grains, potassium, calcium, soybean meal, alfalfa meal, corn, wheat, oats, barley, flax seed, fish meal, and/or yeast.