Species specific feeder
View Patent ↗Animal feeders are disclosed that include housings resilient to specific species, feed compartments resilient to selected species, a protected region in the housing, a barrier between the protected region and the feed compartment, an access door, a species recognition device, an access door actuator, a controller, and an arm projecting through the housing or the barrier.
1. An animal feeder comprising:
a. a housing wherein the housing is resilient to a selected species;
b. a feed compartment within the housing wherein the feed compartment is resilient to the selected species;
c. a protected region within the housing;
d. a barrier between the protected region and the feed compartment;
e. an access door located in the housing;
f. a species recognition device;
g. an access door actuator located in the protected region; and
h. an electric shock deterrent;
i. wherein an external portion of the housing is electrically conductive;
j. wherein the protected region is not accessible to the selected species;
k. wherein the housing is a hog resilient housing;
l. wherein the access door is a hog resilient access door; and
m. wherein the selected species is a mammalian species.
2. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein the electric shock deterrent is configured to deactivate in response to a recognition of the mammalian species by the species recognition device.
3. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein the access door is configured to open in response to a recognition of the mammalian species by the species recognition device.
4. The animal feeder of claim 1 wherein the selected species is wild boar.
5. An animal feeder comprising:
a. a housing wherein the housing is resilient to a selected species;
b. a feed compartment within the housing wherein the feed compartment is resilient to the selected species;
c. a protected region within the housing;
d. a barrier between the protected region and the feed compartment;
e. an access door located in the housing;
f. a species recognition device;
g. an access door actuator located in the protected region; and
h. an electric shock deterrent;
i. wherein the access door actuator operates in response to the species recognition device;
j. wherein the access door actuator operates the access door through an obstruction selected from the housing and the barrier;
k. wherein the barrier is a selected species barrier;
l. wherein the access door actuator has an access door actuator communication line and the access door actuator communication line is entirely within the protected region;
m. wherein the housing is a bear resilient housing;
n. wherein the access door is a bear resilient access door; and
o. wherein the selected species is selected from a mammalian species and an avian species.
6. The animal feeder of claim 5 further comprising
a. an arm projecting through the obstruction; and
b. an armhole in the obstruction through which the arm projects;
c. wherein the arm is connected to the access door; and
d. wherein the arm is connected to the access door actuator.
7. The animal feeder of claim 6 wherein a cross sectional area of the armhole is no more than ten times a cross-sectional area of the arm.
8. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein an animal feed passage is provided in the barrier.
9. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein the access door is operated by a mechanical screw.
10. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein the access door is operated hydraulically.
11. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein the access door is resistant to non-actuated motion.
12. The animal feeder of claim 5 wherein no communication lines are located in the feed compartment.