Young pigeon pairing cage

Through modular design and intelligent facilities, the shortcomings of pairing cage facilities in traditional young pigeon lofts have been solved, enabling efficient, convenient and comfortable pairing operations, and improving management efficiency and animal welfare.

CN224330142UActive Publication Date: 2026-06-09ZHONGKAI UNIV OF AGRI & ENG +2

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
ZHONGKAI UNIV OF AGRI & ENG
Filing Date
2025-06-13
Publication Date
2026-06-09

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional young pigeon lofts lack dedicated pairing cages, leading to difficulties in identification and catching, low pairing efficiency, chaotic management, uncontrollable ventilation and lighting, and inefficient manure cleaning, failing to meet the needs for efficient, convenient, and comfortable pairing.

Method used

The modular matching cage unit is designed with a sliding rail mechanism and a light-transmitting mesh plate, combined with a gravity sensing module and a humidity sensor to achieve rapid cage reassembly, precise adjustment of light, and automatic collection of feces, reducing the frequency of manual intervention.

Benefits of technology

It significantly improves management efficiency and animal welfare in the mating process, reduces stress response, optimizes the rearing environment, reduces labor intensity and feed waste, and increases reproductive success rate.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model relates to a young pigeon pairing cage belongs to poultry breeding facility technical field, mainly solves the low degree of traditional pairing cage modularization and leads to the problem of difficult space adjustment, uncontrollable ventilation and lighting and low fecal cleaning efficiency. Its technical scheme main points include: a plurality of modular pairing cage units are distributed along the periphery of the support frame of the main body of the flying shed; the cage body is connected with the support frame through the sliding rail mechanism; the cage body side and top are provided with adjustable light transmission grid plates with opening and closing angles of 0-90 degrees; the bottom pollution collection assembly includes a 5-15 degree inclined deflector, a fecal collection box embedded with a sliding groove and a first gravity sensing module for real-time weighing. The device is suitable for large-scale pigeon farms, improves the layout flexibility through module reorganization, optimizes the ventilation and lighting environment, realizes automatic fecal collection, and improves the feeding stability and reduces the artificial cleaning frequency.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of poultry farming facilities. More specifically, this utility model relates to a pairing cage for young pigeons. Background Technology

[0002] In the breeding of young pigeons, pairing is a crucial step in improving reproductive efficiency. However, traditional young pigeon lofts generally lack dedicated pairing cages and typically employ an open-style group rearing model. In this model, workers need to individually identify and select young pigeons from the flock that meet breeding criteria (such as specific sex, breed, and developmental stage) before artificially pairing them. This process presents significant problems:

[0003] Difficulties in identification and capture: In open pigeon lofts, workers need to spend a lot of time observing, identifying, and locating target pigeons among the flock, resulting in low operational efficiency. A single pairing operation usually takes more than 5 minutes, and it is very easy for capture failure or pigeon stress injury to occur due to pigeons avoiding or flying away.

[0004] Low pairing efficiency: The lack of physical isolation means the pairing process is easily disrupted by other pigeons, making it difficult to ensure stable coexistence and successful mating. Furthermore, the inability to effectively isolate and observe newly paired pigeons leads to a high pairing failure rate and frequent re-pairing.

[0005] Disorganized management: If paired pigeons do not have independent space, it is difficult to carry out individualized management and recording (such as tracking egg production and fertilization), which is not conducive to refined breeding management.

[0006] To address the aforementioned pairing challenges, some farms have attempted to temporarily use traditional fixed breeding cages as pairing cages. However, these cages were not originally designed for pairing scenarios and have the following inherent flaws, making it difficult for them to meet the needs for efficient, convenient, and comfortable pairing:

[0007] 1. Low modularity and difficulty in adjusting spatial layout: Traditional cages are usually fixed in place, making it difficult to flexibly reorganize and adjust their layout according to the number of pairs, batch rotation, or changes in fly shed space. When it is necessary to add or remove pairs or change the arrangement, the operation is cumbersome, time-consuming, and labor-intensive.

[0008] 2. Uncontrollable ventilation and lighting: Traditional cages often have fixed ventilation and lighting structures or only simple opening and closing functions, lacking precise angle adjustment capabilities (such as the range of 0° to 90°). This makes it impossible to finely adjust ventilation and light intensity according to the season, weather, and the stage of pairing (such as the need for quiet in the early stages of pairing and the need for light stimulation in the later stages), affecting the comfort and physiological state of the paired pigeons.

[0009] 3. Low efficiency in fecal removal: Traditional cages have rudimentary bottom waste collection designs, often flat or simply inclined, lacking optimized flow guidance structures (such as 5° to 15° high-efficiency flow guide plates) and automated monitoring methods (such as gravity sensors). Feces easily accumulate and are inconvenient to clean, heavily relying on frequent manual observation and emptying by workers. This is not only labor-intensive but also difficult to guarantee timeliness, easily leading to the deterioration of the cage environment.

[0010] Fixed internal space with poor adaptability: It lacks flexible internal space division (such as reconfigurable partitions) and cannot optimize space configuration according to the breed of paired pigeons, differences in body size, or special needs (such as isolating aggressive individuals).

[0011] In summary, traditional pigeon lofts, lacking dedicated pairing cages, result in time-consuming, labor-intensive, inefficient, and unsatisfactory pairing operations. While traditional fixed breeding cages offer an alternative, their inherent drawbacks—low modularity, rigid spatial layout, unadjustable ventilation and lighting, inefficient manure cleaning, and lack of convenience—fail to effectively address the core pain points of the pairing process and may even introduce new management challenges and animal welfare issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a dedicated pairing cage device optimized for the pairing needs of young pigeons, integrating modularity, adjustable environment, efficient cleaning, and safe and convenient operation. Summary of the Invention

[0012] One object of this invention is to solve at least the problems described above and to provide at least the advantages that will be explained later.

[0013] This utility model also solves at least the following technical problems:

[0014] Traditional breeding cages for young pigeons suffer from low modularity, difficulty in adjusting spatial layout, fixed ventilation and lighting, and low efficiency in manure collection. Fixed cages cannot adapt to dynamic breeding needs, ventilation structures lack angle adjustment capabilities, and planar manure collection designs rely on manual cleaning.

[0015] An unreasonable layout of facilities inside the cage leads to poor roosting comfort. The height of traditional roosting frames does not take into account the natural behavior and habits of pigeons. The capacity of the feeding trough does not match the feeding frequency, which can easily lead to feed waste or insufficient supply.

[0016] Insufficient dimensional matching accuracy of the slide rail mechanism leads to high movement resistance or risk of derailment. The traditional design of the gap between the track and the roller lacks scientific basis, which affects the stability of the cage movement.

[0017] Fixed light transmittance design cannot adapt to changes in day and night light intensity, conventional shading materials lack environmental responsiveness, and manual adjustment is time-consuming and disrupts the stability of the cage environment.

[0018] Fecal moisture monitoring relies on manual sampling, traditional collection boxes cannot provide early warning of ammonia release risks, and delayed cleaning operations lead to a deterioration of sanitary conditions.

[0019] Feeding amount control relies on experience and judgment. Traditional feeding systems cannot automatically replenish feed based on real-time consumption, and overfeeding increases the risk of feed spoilage.

[0020] To achieve these objectives and other advantages according to the present invention, a breeding cage for young pigeons is provided, comprising:

[0021] Multiple modular paired cage units are distributed circumferentially along the support frame fixedly connected to the bottom of the main body of the flying shed. Each modular paired cage unit includes a cage body, a cage door, and a bottom dirt collection component.

[0022] The bottom of the cage is slidably connected to the support frame via a slide rail mechanism. The sides and top of the cage are provided with openable and closable light-transmitting mesh panels, and the opening and closing angle of the light-transmitting mesh panels ranges from 0° to 90°.

[0023] The cage body has a cage door on the front side; the bottom sewage collection assembly includes an inclined guide plate, a feces collection box and a first gravity sensing module. The inclined guide plate has an inclination angle of 5° to 15°. The feces collection box is embedded into the bottom of the cage body through a slide groove. The first gravity sensing module is set at the bottom of the slide groove to weigh the mass of the feces collection box in real time.

[0024] Preferably, the cage of this invention has a perch and a feeding trough fixedly installed on the inner wall of the cage. The height of the perch is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the height of the cage, and the volume of the feeding trough is 200mL to 500mL.

[0025] Preferably, the opening and closing drive mechanism of the light-transmitting mesh plate is equipped with a stepper motor with a step angle of 1.8°, which is connected to the rotating shaft of the light-transmitting mesh plate through a worm gear reducer.

[0026] Preferably, the cage body is equipped with a reconfigurable partition system, including:

[0027] At least two sets of parallel sliding guide rails are fixed between the top frame and the bottom frame along the length of the cage. The spacing between the guide rails is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the width of the cage. The guide rail cross section is a T-shaped aluminum alloy profile with a surface roughness Ra≤3.2.

[0028] The partition panel is made of 304 stainless steel wire mesh with a aperture of 5mm×5mm welded to an aluminum alloy frame. The upper and lower sides of the partition panel are equipped with polyoxymethylene sliders that match the sliding guide rail. The sliders are 8-10mm thick and have a sliding friction coefficient ≤0.15.

[0029] The locking mechanism includes a spring pin located at the bottom of the partition plate and positioning holes on the guide rail. The pin has a diameter of 6mm and a stroke of 5-8mm. The positioning holes are spaced 50mm apart and are fitted with nylon bushings.

[0030] Preferably, the slide rail mechanism of this utility model includes a rolling bearing and a limiting groove, wherein the diameter of the rolling bearing is in the range of 20mm to 50mm, and the width of the limiting groove is 1mm to 3mm larger than the diameter of the rolling bearing.

[0031] Preferably, the outer side of the light-transmitting mesh plate of this invention is covered with a photosensitive adjustment layer, the light transmittance of the photosensitive adjustment layer varies from 20% to 80%, and the photosensitive adjustment layer is composed of a polyethylene film doped with tungsten oxide, with a film thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0032] Preferably, the inner wall of the feces collection box of this invention is embedded with a humidity sensor, the humidity sensor has a detection range of relative humidity from 40% to 90%, and the humidity sensor is wirelessly connected to the alarm indicator light on the top of the cage.

[0033] Preferably, the bottom of the feeding trough of this invention is provided with a second gravity sensing module, and the second gravity sensing module is linked with the solenoid valve of the external feeding system through a controller.

[0034] This utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0035] The modular design enables rapid cage reconfiguration via a sliding rail mechanism, improving space utilization; adjustable light-transmitting mesh panels optimize ventilation and lighting balance; and the primary gravity sensor module, linked to the manure collection box, enables automatic waste collection, reducing the frequency of manual intervention. The overall structure significantly improves breeding management efficiency and animal welfare.

[0036] The open flight area expands the activity space for young pigeons, promotes their natural behavioral expression, reduces stress response caused by spatial confinement, and enhances air convection through the open top structure, improving the overall environmental quality of the flying shed.

[0037] Optimizing the height of the perch simulates the natural habitat of pigeons, reducing the incidence of foot fatigue; precise volume feeding troughs reduce feed spillage, and combined with a timed feeding strategy, can reduce the risk of digestive system diseases and improve feed conversion rate.

[0038] The size matching design of the rolling bearing and the limiting groove enables smooth movement. The 1-3mm gap ensures smooth sliding and prevents the risk of derailment, extending the service life of the slide rail mechanism and reducing maintenance costs.

[0039] The photosensitive adjustment layer dynamically adjusts the light transmittance. The tungsten oxide doped film automatically reduces the light transmittance when the light intensity is enhanced, avoiding thermal stress caused by direct strong light, while maintaining ventilation efficiency and reducing the frequency of manual adjustment.

[0040] Humidity sensors monitor fecal moisture content in real time, provide early warning of ammonia release thresholds, and wireless alarm systems enable cross-regional monitoring, helping managers to accurately formulate cleaning plans and reduce the incidence of respiratory diseases.

[0041] The second gravity sensing module, in conjunction with the feeding system, enables precise feeding, avoiding errors caused by manual feeding. The controller dynamically adjusts the feeding amount based on the consumption rate, reducing feed spoilage and maintaining nutritional balance.

[0042] The combination of a sliding guide rail system and a polyoxymethylene slider allows for the partition plate to divide the cage along its length. A spring-loaded locking mechanism allows for single-sided partition position adjustment within 30 seconds. This system, which adjusts the cage space via the partition plate, meets the space requirements of different breeds (such as King Pigeons / Cano Pigeons) for 0.3-0.6 m² per bird.

[0043] Other advantages, objectives and features of this invention will be partly apparent from the following description, and partly understood by those skilled in the art through study and practice of this invention. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 A top-down view of the supporting frame within the main body of the flying roc;

[0045] Figure 2 This is a side view of the paired cage unit;

[0046] Figure 3 This is a front view schematic diagram of the paired cage unit;

[0047] Figure 4 This is a front view diagram of the main body of the flying roc.

[0048] 1. Support frame; 2. Flying shed main body; 3. Cage body; 4. Cage door; 5. Inclined guide plate; 6. Feces collection box; 7. Partition plate. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.

[0050] It should be understood that terms such as “having,” “comprising,” and “including” as used herein do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or combinations thereof.

[0051] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods described in the following embodiments are conventional methods, and the reagents and materials described are commercially available. In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "setting" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connection or setting, detachable connection or setting, or integral connection or setting. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances. The terms "lateral," "longitudinal," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0052] like Figure 1-4 As shown, this utility model provides a pairing cage for young pigeons, comprising:

[0053] Multiple modular paired cage units are distributed circumferentially along the support frame 1 fixedly connected to the bottom of the main body 2 of the flying shed. Each modular paired cage unit includes a cage body 3, a cage door 4, and a bottom dirt collection component.

[0054] The bottom of the cage 3 is slidably connected to the support frame 1 via a slide rail mechanism. The sides and top of the cage 3 are provided with openable and closable light-transmitting mesh panels, and the opening and closing angle range of the light-transmitting mesh panels is 0° to 90°.

[0055] The cage body has a cage door 4 on the front side; the bottom sewage collection assembly includes an inclined guide plate 5, a feces collection box 6 and a first gravity sensing module. The inclined guide plate has an inclination angle of 5° to 15°. The feces collection box is embedded into the bottom of the cage body through a slide groove. The first gravity sensing module is set at the bottom of the slide groove to weigh the mass of the feces collection box in real time.

[0056] The cage body 3 can be made of welded aluminum alloy profiles, with the surface covered by a 10mm×10mm mesh metal wire mesh. The support frame 1 can be made of galvanized square steel pipe with a cross-sectional dimension of 50mm×30mm, and fixed to the bottom of the main body 2 of the flying shed with bolts. The circumferential distribution spacing of the modular pairing cage units along the support frame 1 can be set to 600mm to 800mm. This spacing has been experimentally verified to avoid mutual interference between pigeons in adjacent cage bodies 3. The internal clearance dimensions of the cage body 3 can be determined by simulating the movement trajectory of pigeons. Each modular pairing cage unit includes 3 cage bodies 3, 3 cage doorways 4, and 3 bottom dirt collection components that match the cage bodies. The stacked design of the 3 cage bodies constitutes the modular pairing cage.

[0057] The slide rail mechanism can use a U-shaped aluminum alloy track, with a 30mm diameter rolling bearing embedded within it. The track width is 2mm larger than the bearing diameter. The light-transmitting mesh panel can be made of PVC-coated steel wire mesh with a mesh size of 5mm × 5mm, and is installed on the three sides of the cage via hinges. The opening angle of the light-transmitting mesh panel can also be adjusted manually using a connecting rod.

[0058] The sliding connection between cage 3 and support frame 1 can be equipped with an anti-detachment buckle. The buckle trigger pressure is 1.5N, and it automatically locks when the lateral tension exceeds the threshold. The hinge shaft of the light-transmitting mesh plate can be made of 304 stainless steel with a shaft diameter of 8mm, and both ends are fixed by retaining springs. The rolling bearing of the slide rail mechanism can be a deep groove ball bearing with an inner diameter of 30mm and an outer diameter of 42mm, which is installed on the top bracket of cage 3 with an interference fit. The slide rail connection also solves the problem of cleaning dead corners in fixed cages, making it easier to clean up droppings, pigeon feathers, etc. that fall below the support frame. By setting up pairing cages with open entrances in the flying loft, the behavior of pigeons naturally choosing nesting sites is simulated. Young pigeons (one male and one female) in the pairing period will spontaneously enter the cage, regard it as their "home", and mate. This perfectly replaces the process of workers painstakingly identifying and catching paired pigeons in dense flocks. Once pigeons "settle down" in a specific pairing cage, the cage naturally marks the pair. Workers no longer need to search through large flocks of pigeons; they can simply inspect the pairing cages to intuitively, quickly, and accurately locate successfully paired pigeon combinations (which male and which female pigeon are together), significantly improving identification efficiency. The inclined guide plate 5 can be made of 1.2mm thick ABS plastic with a non-stick coating, and its tilt angle is adjustable to 10° via a support rod. The inclined guide plate 5 is located between the bottom mesh plate (for the pigeons to stand on) of the cage 3 and the droppings collection box 6, and is bolted to the inside of the bottom frame of the cage 3, covering the entire bottom surface of the cage 3. The droppings collection box 6 can be a 5L polyethylene box with a 0.5mm gap between the bottom groove width and the guide rail of the cage 3. When the first gravity sensor module detects that the weight of the waste in the collection box reaches a threshold, such as 1kg, an alarm signal is emitted via an alarm indicator light.

[0059] Technical Benefits: This solution achieves rapid cage reconfiguration through a modular layout. The sliding rail mechanism and translucent mesh panel work together to enhance environmental adaptability. The bottom waste collection system reduces manual cleaning frequency through tilting and the prompts from the first gravity sensor module. The overall structure optimizes the rearing environment for young pigeons while reducing labor intensity. The open entrance and closed door design guides young pigeons to spontaneously enter specific cages and "settle down" for mating. This fundamentally solves the problem of difficulty and time-consuming identification and retrieval of mating pigeons in dense flocks. The mating cage serves as a physical marker of the pigeons' "home," enabling workers to quickly and accurately locate paired pigeon combinations and efficiently retrieve and transfer them within a limited and optimized space. This significantly improves management efficiency, operational safety, and animal welfare in the mating process, laying a solid foundation for subsequent breeding and rearing.

[0060] In another technical solution, the inner wall of the cage 3 of this utility model is fixedly installed with a perch and a feeding trough. The height of the perch is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the height of the cage 3, and the volume of the feeding trough is 200mL to 500mL.

[0061] The perch can be made of 20mm diameter bamboo round poles, with the surface sanded to remove burrs. Both ends are fixed to the left and right side walls of cage body 3 using stainless steel angle brackets. The angle brackets can be made of 2mm thick 304 stainless steel plates, connected to the cage body 3 frame using M5×15mm bolts. For cage body 3 with a height of 500mm, the perch installation height can be set to 170mm to 250mm above the bottom of cage body 3. This range is determined by observing the leg bending angle of young pigeons when standing naturally. The bamboo pole length can be set to 300mm, with a 10mm gap at both ends to avoid friction with the cage walls. In experimental testing, a single perch can withstand a 5kg static load for 24 hours without deformation.

[0062] The feeding trough can be made of food-grade polyethylene through injection molding. The internal dimensions of the trough can be set to 150mm in length, 80mm in width, and 60mm in height, with an effective volume of approximately 300mL. A spill-proof edge can be installed on the top of the trough, with an edge height of 10mm and an outward tilt of 15°. The feeding trough is fixed to the lower front wall of the cage body using two stainless steel clips, with a clip spacing of 200mm and an installation position 50mm from the bottom of the cage to avoid fecal contamination. Experiments show that this volume design allows for a single feeding amount to meet the feeding needs for 4-6 hours, reducing the probability of feed mold.

[0063] The height of the perch was determined by statistically analyzing the natural perching postures of young pigeons. Measurements showed that the average height of 20 pigeons standing above the ground was 40% of the cage height. The feeding trough volume was set based on daily feed consumption data; each young pigeon consumes approximately 50g of feed per day, corresponding to a 200mL volume sufficient for two feedings. Drainage holes with a diameter of 3mm and a spacing of 30mm can be installed at the bottom of the trough to prevent water accumulation. In the structural design, a 2mm thick rubber gasket can be added at the connection between the feeding trough and the cage wall to reduce vibration and noise. During installation, first locate the mounting holes for the corner brackets, then tighten the bolts to a torque of 1.5 N·m to ensure the stability of the support frame.

[0064] Technical Benefits: The appropriately designed perch height reduces stress on the pigeons' feet, conforming to their natural roosting habits and minimizing the risk of fatigue and injury. The precisely sized feeding trough, combined with a spill-proof design, effectively controls the amount of feed given at a time, preventing waste and spoilage. Structural parameters have been experimentally validated, balancing functionality and durability to improve feeding and management efficiency.

[0065] In another technical solution, a stepper motor is added to the opening and closing drive mechanism of the light-transmitting mesh plate. The stepper motor has a step angle of 1.8° and is connected to the rotating shaft of the light-transmitting mesh plate through a worm gear reducer.

[0066] The light-transmitting mesh panel can be a louvered light-shielding panel, using 12-18 parallel aluminum alloy blades (thickness 0.8-1.2mm), with a single blade width of 40-60mm and a blade spacing of 8-12mm. The two ends of the blades are rotatably connected to the sides of the cage via connecting shafts. A worm gear is mounted on the connecting shaft and connected to a worm shaft. For the worm gear on the side of the cage, it is rotatably connected to the top and bottom ends of the cage; while for the worm gear on the top surface of the cage, it is rotatably connected to both sides of the cage. A stepper motor (maintaining a torque of 0.4N·m) has its output shaft connected to a reducer, which drives the worm gear to rotate, thereby opening and closing the louvered light-shielding panel.

[0067] The stepper motor can be a two-phase hybrid stepper motor with a step angle of 1.8°±0.1°, a rated voltage of 12V DC or 24V DC, and a holding torque range of 0.25-0.5 N·m. The motor can be mounted on a metal bracket on the top frame of the cage. The bracket can be made of 1.5mm thick galvanized steel sheet and connected to the cage frame with M4 stainless steel bolts. The motor output shaft axis should maintain a coaxiality error ≤0.1mm with the light-transmitting mesh plate shaft. The motor housing can be made of die-cast aluminum alloy with an anodized surface.

[0068] The worm gear reducer has a transmission ratio ranging from 10:1 to 20:1. The worm material can be powder metallurgy steel with a surface hardness of HRC45-50, and the worm wheel is made of wear-resistant nylon. The reducer's input shaft is connected to the stepper motor's output shaft via a flexible coupling, and the output shaft is connected to the light-transmitting mesh plate's rotating shaft via a flat key. When the light-transmitting mesh plate is open, the stepper motor can achieve a 90° opening / closing angle every 200 steps, with a single-step angle adjustment accuracy of 0.45°.

[0069] Technical Benefits: This implementation allows for precise control of the opening angle of the light-transmitting mesh panel, with an adjustment accuracy of ±0.5°. The transmission mechanism design ensures continuous operation for 5000 hours without maintenance, and the motor temperature rise is controlled below 40K. The modular assembly structure facilitates on-site installation and debugging, and the protection level meets the IP54 standard, adapting to the needs of humid poultry house environments. When pigeons are active inside the main body of the aviary, the louvered light-blocking panel at the top can be opened to facilitate their gripping, providing additional three-dimensional perching space for pigeons moving freely inside the aviary. This satisfies the ventilation and light transmission requirements inside the cage while also forming a mechanical support point for pigeons to grip from the outside.

[0070] In another technical solution, the cage is equipped with a reconfigurable partition system, including:

[0071] At least two sets of parallel sliding guide rails are fixed between the top frame and the bottom frame along the length of the cage. The spacing between the guide rails is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the width of the cage. The guide rail cross section is a T-shaped aluminum alloy profile with a surface roughness Ra≤3.2.

[0072] The partition panel is made of 304 stainless steel wire mesh with a aperture of 5mm×5mm welded to an aluminum alloy frame. The upper and lower sides of the partition panel are equipped with polyoxymethylene sliders that match the sliding guide rail. The sliders are 8-10mm thick and have a sliding friction coefficient ≤0.15.

[0073] The locking mechanism includes a spring pin located at the bottom of the partition plate and positioning holes on the guide rail. The pin has a diameter of 6mm and a stroke of 5-8mm. The positioning holes are spaced 50mm apart and are fitted with nylon bushings.

[0074] The sliding guide rails can be made of T-section aluminum alloy profiles with a wall thickness of 2-3mm. The guide rail length matches the internal height of the cage. The guide rail spacing can be set to 35%-45% of the cage width. In specific implementations, when the cage width is 600mm, the guide rail spacing can be selected as 210-270mm. The profile surface can be anodized, with an oxide film thickness of 10-15μm and a surface roughness Ra value controlled between 2.5-3.0. The guide rails can be fixed to the top and bottom frames of the cage using M5 stainless steel countersunk screws, with the straightness error controlled within ±1mm / m during installation.

[0075] The partition frame can be made of 6063-T5 aluminum alloy profile with a cross-sectional dimension of 20mm × 10mm, and the wire mesh welding joints are welded using argon arc welding. The polyoxymethylene slider can be a black, wear-resistant model, with the slider height matching the guide rail groove depth; the specific dimensions can be set to 8mm thick × 15mm wide × 25mm long. During installation, the slider is pressed into the partition frame using an interference fit, with the pressing force controlled within the range of 50-80N. When the partition moves, the contact surface between the slider and the guide rail can be coated with silicone-based grease, maintaining a measured friction coefficient of 0.12-0.14.

[0076] The spring pin can be made of 6mm diameter stainless steel cylinder, with a compression spring wire diameter of 0.8mm, a free length of 25mm, and a working compression of 3-5mm. The positioning holes are arranged at 50mm intervals along the length of the guide rail, with a hole diameter of 6.2mm and a hole depth of 8mm. The nylon bushing can be made of MC nylon material, with a wall thickness of 1mm and an interference fit of 0.05-0.08mm. When the partition plate moves to the target position, the pin automatically engages in the positioning hole under the action of the spring force, maintaining an insertion depth of 3-4mm. A 5-8N axial pull force is required for removal.

[0077] Technical benefits: The modular design allows for quick adjustment of cage space division according to breeding needs, and the overall structure meets the hygiene standards for poultry breeding equipment.

[0078] In another technical solution, the slide rail mechanism of this utility model includes a rolling bearing and a limiting groove. The diameter of the rolling bearing ranges from 20mm to 50mm, and the width of the limiting groove is 1mm to 3mm larger than the diameter of the rolling bearing.

[0079] Deep groove ball bearings can be selected for rolling bearings, with an inner ring diameter of 30mm, an outer ring diameter of 42mm, and a width of 10mm. The bearing material can be GCr15 bearing steel with a surface hardness of HRC60-64. It is installed in the bearing housing of the top bracket of cage 3 via an interference fit. The bearing housing can be made of aluminum alloy with a wall thickness of 5mm, and is fixed to the frame of cage 3 with M6×12mm bolts. Experimental tests show that when the bearing diameter is 30mm, a single bearing can withstand a radial load of 300N and an axial load of 150N, meeting the sliding requirements of cage 3.

[0080] The limiting groove can be made of U-shaped aluminum alloy profile, with a groove width of 32mm, corresponding to a 1mm single-sided clearance for a 30mm diameter bearing. The inner surface of the groove can be coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with a thickness of 0.05mm and a friction coefficient ≤0.1. The limiting groove is fixed to the top of the support frame 1 by welding, and the straightness error of the groove must be ≤1mm / m during installation. In the test, a 50kg load was applied to the assembled slide rail, and the measured moving resistance was 5N to 8N, which meets the requirements for manual push-pull operation.

[0081] During assembly, the rolling bearing is first press-fitted into the bearing seat at the top of the cage 3, and then the clearance between the limiting groove and the bearing is adjusted. A 3mm thick rubber buffer strip with a Shore A hardness of 60A can be installed on the side wall of the limiting groove, and it is fixed to the edge of the groove opening with adhesive. When the cage 3 moves to the end point, the buffer strip can absorb 80% of the impact energy. During parameter setting, by calculating the bearing radial clearance and the thermal expansion coefficient of the track, it is determined that a 1-3mm clearance can compensate for deformation caused by a temperature difference of ±2℃.

[0082] Technical Benefits: The dimensional matching design of the rolling bearing and the limiting groove achieves low-resistance sliding; the 1-3mm gap ensures smooth movement while avoiding the risk of derailment. The surface coating and buffer structure extend the service life of the mechanism, and the bearing selection parameters are verified under load to ensure load-bearing reliability. This structure significantly improves the moving efficiency of cage 3 and reduces maintenance requirements during long-term use.

[0083] In another technical solution, the outer side of the light-transmitting mesh plate of the present invention is covered with a photosensitive adjustment layer. The light transmittance of the photosensitive adjustment layer varies from 20% to 80%. The photosensitive adjustment layer is composed of a polyethylene film doped with tungsten oxide, and the film thickness is from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0084] The transmittance of the photosensitive adjustment layer can be varied by adjusting the tungsten oxide doping ratio, which can be set from 3wt% to 8wt%. The polyethylene film substrate can be low-density polyethylene with a melt flow index of 2 g / 10 min and an initial transmittance of 85%. When the ambient light intensity exceeds 5000 lux, the film transmittance can drop to 25%, recovering to 70% under cloudy conditions (≤1000 lux). The film can be cut to the same size as the light-transmitting grid plate and bonded to the outer surface of the grid plate via a hot-pressing process, with the bonding temperature controlled at 120℃±5℃ and the pressure at 0.3 MPa.

[0085] Tungsten oxide powder can be selected from 50nm nanoparticles, which are blended and granulated with polyethylene granules using a twin-screw extruder. Film production can employ a casting process with a die temperature set at 180℃, a cooling roller temperature at 40℃, and a traction speed of 2m / min. A 0.3mm thick film exhibits a response time of approximately 5 minutes under UV irradiation at 1000μW / cm². In testing, the film sample was placed in a xenon lamp aging chamber and continuously irradiated for 100 hours, resulting in a transmittance attenuation of ≤5%.

[0086] The edges of the photosensitive adjustment layer can be edged with aluminum alloy, with a 10mm width, and fixed to the frame of the light-transmitting grid plate using silicone adhesive. During installation, the film is first laid flat on the grid plate surface, and then air bubbles are removed using rollers. Experiments show that when the film thickness is 0.2mm, the light transmittance adjustment response speed and mechanical strength achieve the optimal balance, with a bending strength ≥15MPa. During the opening and closing mechanism of the grid plate, the maximum tensile deformation of the film is ≤1.5%, and no cracking occurs.

[0087] Technical benefits: The photosensitive adjustment layer dynamically adjusts its transmittance according to the ambient light intensity, avoiding thermal stress caused by direct sunlight. The tungsten oxide-doped film automatically reduces its transmittance when the light intensity increases, while maintaining unobstructed ventilation pores. Thickness parameters are optimized through mechanical and optical performance testing to ensure structural stability during long-term use and reduce the frequency of manual shading operations.

[0088] In another technical solution, the inner wall of the feces collection box 6 of this utility model is embedded with a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor has a detection range of relative humidity from 40% to 90%. The humidity sensor is wirelessly connected to the alarm indicator light on the top of the cage 3.

[0089] The humidity sensor can be a capacitive humidity sensing element, with a detection range covering relative humidity from 30% to 95% and an accuracy of ±3%RH. The sensor housing can be encapsulated in epoxy resin, with dimensions of 20mm × 15mm × 5mm, and fixed to the inner wall of the collection box 50mm from the bottom using silicone sealant. The sensing probe can be kept 2mm away from the inner wall surface to avoid direct contact with contaminants. In experimental testing, the sensor was placed in a humidity gradient environmental chamber, and the linearity error was ≤2.5% within the range of 40% to 90%RH. The sensor can be powered by a CR2032 button battery, with an operating current ≤10μA and a battery life ≥6 months.

[0090] The wireless signal module can be a 2.4GHz low-power Bluetooth module with a transmit power of 0dBm and a communication distance of ≤10m. The alarm indicator can be an RGB LED module, installed on the top outer side of cage 3 and secured with M3×8mm screws. When the humidity exceeds the 80%RH threshold, the LED switches to a red flashing mode at a flashing frequency of 1Hz. The wireless communication protocol can be set to send a data packet every 5 minutes, containing the humidity value and device ID. During testing, in the environment of metal cage 3, the signal strength attenuation was ≤15dB, and the bit error rate was <0.1%.

[0091] During installation, first make an opening in the inner wall of the collection box to position the sensor, inject silicone sealant, and then press the sensor body into place. The wireless module can be integrated on the back of the sensor, with an antenna extension length of 20mm and a 5mm gap between it and the metal inner wall. The control unit of the alarm indicator can have a built-in humidity threshold comparator, with a hysteresis range set to ±5%RH to prevent frequent switching of the threshold value. Experimental data shows that when the ambient temperature is 25℃, a fecal moisture content of 35% corresponds to a detected humidity of 78%RH, and the alarm response time is ≤30 seconds.

[0092] Technical Benefits: A humidity sensor monitors fecal moisture content in real time, providing early warning of ammonia release risks; the 80% RH threshold is set based on the critical point of microbial activity. Wireless transmission avoids complex wiring, and the low-power design extends equipment lifespan. Multi-status alarm indicator lights help quickly locate abnormal points, improving the targeting of cleaning operations and reducing environmental pollutant concentrations.

[0093] In another technical solution, the bottom of the feeding trough of this utility model is provided with a second gravity sensing module, and the second gravity sensing module is linked with the solenoid valve of the external feeding system through a controller.

[0094] The second gravity sensing module can be a resistance strain gauge load cell with a range of 0-5kg, a detection accuracy of ±5g, and a linear error ≤0.1%FS. The sensor can be encapsulated in an ABS plastic housing, measuring 60mm × 40mm × 10mm, and fixed to the center of the bottom of the feeding trough with M3 × 6mm bolts, 20mm from the edge of the trough. The sensor elastomer can be made of 17-4PH stainless steel, with a Wheatstone bridge circuit output sensitivity of 2mV / V and a power supply voltage of 5VDC. In experimental testing, standard weights were used for loading verification, and the repeatability error was ≤3g under a 2kg load.

[0095] The controller can use an ARM Cortex-M4 core microprocessor with a built-in 24-bit ADC sampling module and a sampling frequency of 100Hz. The solenoid valve can be a direct-acting normally closed type with a 6mm diameter, a response time ≤50ms, and an operating pressure of 0.1-0.8MPa. The signal cable can be a twisted-pair shielded cable with a diameter of 0.3mm², with the shield grounded at one end, laid along the cable tray on the back of the cage to the external feeding system. The linkage threshold can be set to 200g of remaining feed in the feeding trough. When the detected weight is below the threshold, the controller outputs a 24V pulse signal to drive the solenoid valve to open and replenish feed, with a single replenishment amount set to 150g.

[0096] During installation, first attach the sensor to the bottom of the feeding trough, adjusting the levelness error to ≤0.2°, then connect the signal cable to the controller input port. The controller can incorporate a moving average filtering algorithm with a window width of 10 sampling points to suppress instantaneous fluctuations caused by pigeons pecking at the feed. In testing, simulating a continuous feeding scenario, when the feed in the trough reached 190g, the system initiated a replenishment process within 3 seconds, with a replenishment error of ±10g. The solenoid valve outlet can be equipped with a flow rate adjustment knob, with an adjustment range of 50-200mL / s and knob scale intervals of 25mL.

[0097] Technical Benefits: The second gravity sensor module monitors the remaining feed level in real time, enabling precise automatic feeding through controller linkage. ±5g detection accuracy prevents overfeeding and reduces the risk of feed spoilage. The solenoid valve's rapid response ensures continuous feeding, while the sliding filter algorithm effectively eliminates false triggers. This structure reduces the frequency of manual feeding, maintaining feed freshness and nutritional balance.

[0098] Although the embodiments of this utility model have been disclosed above, they are not limited to the applications listed in the specification and embodiments. They can be applied to various fields suitable for this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other modifications can be easily made. Therefore, without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and their equivalents, this utility model is not limited to the specific details and the illustrations shown and described herein.

Claims

1. A pairing cage for young pigeons, characterized in that, include: Multiple modular paired cage units are distributed circumferentially along the support frame fixedly connected to the bottom of the main body of the flying shed. Each modular paired cage unit includes a cage body, a cage door, and a bottom dirt collection component. The bottom of the cage is slidably connected to the support frame via a slide rail mechanism. The sides and top of the cage are provided with openable and closable light-transmitting mesh panels, and the opening and closing angle of the light-transmitting mesh panels ranges from 0° to 90°. The cage body has a cage door on the front side; the bottom sewage collection assembly includes an inclined guide plate, a feces collection box and a first gravity sensing module. The inclined guide plate has an inclination angle of 5° to 15°. The feces collection box is embedded into the bottom of the cage body through a slide groove. The first gravity sensing module is set at the bottom of the slide groove to weigh the mass of the feces collection box in real time.

2. The pairing cage for young pigeons according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cage is fixedly equipped with a perch and a feeding trough on its inner wall. The height of the perch is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the height of the cage, and the volume of the feeding trough is 200 mL to 500 mL.

3. The pairing cage for young pigeons according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening and closing drive mechanism of the light-transmitting mesh plate is equipped with a stepper motor with a step angle of 1.8°, which is connected to the rotating shaft of the light-transmitting mesh plate through a worm gear reducer.

4. The pairing cage for young pigeons according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cage is equipped with a reconfigurable partition system, including: At least two sets of parallel sliding guide rails are fixed between the top frame and the bottom frame along the length of the cage. The spacing between the guide rails is 1 / 3 to 1 / 2 of the width of the cage. The guide rail cross section is a T-shaped aluminum alloy profile with a surface roughness Ra≤3.

2. The partition panel is made of 304 stainless steel wire mesh with a aperture of 5mm×5mm welded to an aluminum alloy frame. The upper and lower sides of the partition panel are equipped with polyoxymethylene sliders that match the sliding guide rail. The sliders are 8-10mm thick and have a sliding friction coefficient ≤0.

15. The locking mechanism includes a spring pin located at the bottom of the partition plate and positioning holes on the guide rail. The pin has a diameter of 6mm and a stroke of 5-8mm. The positioning holes are spaced 50mm apart and are fitted with nylon bushings.

5. The pairing cage for young pigeons according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slide rail mechanism includes a rolling bearing and a limiting groove. The diameter of the rolling bearing ranges from 20mm to 50mm, and the width of the limiting groove is 1mm to 3mm larger than the diameter of the rolling bearing.

6. The pairing cage for young pigeons according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer side of the light-transmitting mesh plate is covered with a photosensitive adjustment layer, the light transmittance of which varies from 20% to 80%, and the thickness of which is from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

7. The pairing cage for young pigeons according to claim 1, characterized in that, A humidity sensor is embedded in the inner wall of the feces collection box. The humidity sensor has a detection range of 40% to 90% relative humidity. The humidity sensor is wirelessly connected to the alarm indicator light on the top of the cage.

8. The pairing cage for young pigeons according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the feeding trough is equipped with a second gravity sensing module, which is linked to the solenoid valve of the external feeding system through a controller.