Perch, perch unit, and coating composition

Abstract

To provide a perch that can suppress speed of a nail growing by a spontaneous action of a bird and is highly safe, a perch unit, and a coating composition used in a coating material of a surface thereof.SOLUTION: A perch 1 includes a wood material part 2, and a coating part 3 coating a surface of the wood material part 2. In the coating part 3, a natural calcium powder (for example, shell powder) is held in a biopolymer (for example, gelatin). The wood part is formed of a dry wood having moisture content of 20% or less and a cypress branch or the like is used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coating composition used for perches, perch units, and coating materials for the surfaces thereof for birds kept as pets or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In the field of pets, birds are very popular and come in a wide variety of species. For example, budgerigars, zebra finches, and Java sparrows are widely kept as pets. Birds are mainly kept in cages and enjoyed as ornamental animals or tame.

[0003] When raising birds, it is important to take care of their nails as well as feeding and droppings. If the nails are left long, they may easily get caught on the cage or injure themselves or their owners. For this reason, nails are clipped regularly (every 2-3 months) at home or at a pet shop.

[0004] Nail clipping is generally done by restraining the bird so that it cannot move safely, but holding the bird safely and securely is a very delicate task. It is also very stressful for the bird, and it can cause the bird to panic, and in some cases the bird may become disliked or even die from being weak. For this reason, there is a demand for products that can reduce the stress and workload of nail clipping.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a perch with a file such as metal or sandpaper on its surface. According to this, it is said that the bird's spontaneous behavior, that is, the bird's grasping at the perch, allows the bird to naturally sharpen its claws. On the other hand, birds have a habit of pecking at things around them with their beaks, and in the case of the perch in Patent Document 1, for example, it is possible that the file part may enter the bird's mouth. Therefore, it is thought that there is room for further improvement from the viewpoint of safety, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-270047 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a coating composition that can suppress the rate at which a bird's claws grow due to its spontaneous behavior and is highly safe, and can be used for perches, perch units, and coating materials for the surfaces thereof. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The perch of the present invention comprises a wooden part and a covering part covering the surface of the wooden part, and is characterized in that naturally occurring calcium powder is held in a biopolymer in the covering part.

[0009] The present invention is characterized in that the biopolymer is gelatin, and the naturally occurring calcium powder is shell powder.

[0010] The wooden portion is characterized in that it is made of dry wood with a moisture content of 20% or less.

[0011] The perch unit of the present invention is a perch unit that is installed in a breeding cage and is composed of a plurality of perches, and at least one of the plurality of perches is the perch of the present invention. In this case, among the plurality of perches in the perch unit, all of the perches may be the perches of the present invention, or one of the perches may be the perch of the present invention and the remaining perches may be well-known perches (for example, a perch made of wood only).

[0012] The coating composition of the present invention is a coating composition for coating the surface of a wooden perch, and is characterized by containing a biopolymer and naturally occurring calcium powder. Effect of the Invention

[0013] The perch of the present invention has a wooden part and a covering part that covers the surface of the wooden part, and in the covering part, naturally occurring calcium powder is held in a biopolymer. The naturally occurring calcium powder plays a role in cutting the nails, thereby suppressing the rate at which the nails grow and providing a highly safe perch.

[0014] In addition, the naturally occurring calcium powder is shell powder, which leads to the reuse of the large amount of shells that are generated after the shellfish are shipped.

[0015] The perch unit of the present invention is a perch unit consisting of a plurality of perches installed in a breeding cage, and at least one of the plurality of perches is a perch of the present invention, which makes it easier to encourage birds to move between perches and increases the opportunities for the claws to come into contact with the naturally occurring calcium powder in the perch of the present invention, thereby making it easier to suppress the rate at which the claws grow.

[0016] The coating composition of the present invention is a coating composition for coating the surface of wooden perches, and contains a biopolymer and naturally occurring calcium powder. Therefore, when applied to wooden perches, it can suppress the rate at which claws grow and provides a highly safe coating. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a perch of the present invention. [Diagram 2] Photographs showing the state of the perch of the present invention before and after use. [Diagram 3] 1 is a photograph showing the condition of the nails of a zebra finch before and after a test in an example. [Figure 4] 1 is a photograph showing the condition of the nails of a zebra finch before and after a test in an example. [Diagram 5] 1 is a photograph showing the condition of the nails of a budgerigar before and after a test in an example. [Figure 6] 1 is a photograph showing the condition of the nails of Java sparrows and other animals before and after testing in an example. [Figure 7] Photographs showing the condition of the nails of cockatiels and other animals before and after testing in the examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The perch of the present invention will be described below.

[0019] The perch of the present invention is used as a perch for birds kept in ordinary homes, stores, facilities, etc. This perch is designed to reduce the rate at which the claws grow by repeatedly moving to the perch through the bird's spontaneous behavior. The type of bird to which the perch of the present invention is applicable is not particularly limited, and can be used for small birds such as budgerigars, zebra finches, and Java sparrows, as well as medium-sized birds such as scaly-legged parakeets and cockatiels.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a perch of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the perch 1 of the present invention has a wooden part 2 as a base material and a covering part 3 that covers the surface of the wooden part 2. For convenience, FIG. 1 shows a diagram in which the surface of the wooden part 2 is partially exposed. The perch 1 may be fixed to a breeding cage, or may be configured to stand independently. In the former case, for example, a bolt is screwed into the wooden part 2 of the perch 1, and the breeding cage is sandwiched between two polyvinyl chloride washers (PVC washers) 4, improving the fixing force of the wing nut. The material of the washers is not particularly limited.

[0021] The perch 1 is formed roughly following the shape of the wooden part 2. There are no particular limitations on the shape of the wooden part 2, and it is possible to use one formed by combining straight parts, or one that naturally branches and bends to change thickness. It is preferable to use wood (natural wood) that makes use of its natural shape for the wooden part 2, and it may have bark attached. For example, if the surface is rough and uneven, it will be easier to distribute the load on the soles of the bird's feet, which will also help prevent bumblefoot, a condition in which the soles of the feet become red and swollen.

[0022] The thickness of the wooden part 2 may be set depending on the type and size of the bird, etc. For example, it may be φ15mm to φ20mm for small birds and φ20mm to φ25mm for medium-sized birds.

[0023] The wood part 2 of the perch 1 may be made of, for example, cypress, apple tree, neem, chestnut, etc. The wood part 2 is preferably made of dried wood dried using a drying device. Reducing the moisture content of the wood part makes it harder and less likely to rot, and insects are less likely to lay eggs there, so that an insect repellent effect can be expected. The moisture content of the wood part 2 used is preferably, for example, 20% or less, but may be 15% or less, or may be 10% or less. To achieve a predetermined moisture content, a drying process can be performed at 70°C for about three weeks, for example. The moisture content can be measured using a moisture content meter. By drying the wood part 2 in advance, it is easier to prevent the wood part 2 from shrinking due to changes over time caused by use, and the covering part 3 from peeling off due to changes in size.

[0024] A more preferred embodiment of the wooden part 2 is made of dried cypress branches that are appropriately branched and have bark. As the wooden part 2, for example, a commercially available wooden perch may be used.

[0025] In the covering portion 3, the naturally occurring calcium powder is held in a biopolymer. The biopolymer mainly functions as an adhesive component, and the naturally occurring calcium powder dispersed and held in the covering portion 3 gradually scrapes the claws c of a moving bird as the claws c come into contact with the naturally occurring calcium powder.

[0026] Examples of naturally derived calcium powders include powdered shells of oysters and mussels, powdered eggshells, and cuttlebone. The main component of these powders is calcium carbonate, and they also contain organic matter. These powders can be called organic calcium carbonate, as opposed to pure calcium carbonate (inorganic salt).

[0027] Naturally occurring calcium powder is obtained, for example, by subjecting a material such as shells to processes such as washing, drying, calcining, crushing, and size adjustment. The naturally occurring calcium powder used in the present invention has a particle size of, for example, 150 μm to 1.40 mm. The particle size here is determined by a sieving method, i.e., the mesh size of a sieve.

[0028] The particle size of the naturally occurring calcium powder can be set in consideration of the density of the powder dispersed in the coating, the ease of adhesion to the wood, the ease of cutting the claws, and the like. For example, the particle size may be set according to the type and size of the bird in consideration of the ease of cutting the claws. For small birds (total length of about 20 cm), the particle size may be set to, for example, 355 μm to 500 μm, and for medium-sized birds, the particle size may be set to, for example, 800 μm to 1.00 mm. To set the particle size, multiple sieves with mesh sizes of 355 μm, 500 μm, 800 μm, 1.00 mm, and 1.40 mm can be used.

[0029] The "biopolymer" constituting the covering portion 3 means a natural polymer component produced by cells of an organism, and can also be called a biologically derived polymer component. Examples of biopolymers include gelatin, collagen, chitin, and chitosan. By using a biopolymer, safety can be ensured even if a bird puts the covering portion 3 in its mouth. As the biopolymer, it is preferable to use gelatin in terms of ease of attachment to wood parts, ease of drying, and resistance to humidity / water. Gelatin is obtained by subjecting a material containing collagen, such as bones and skin of animals such as cows and pigs, and bones and skin of fish such as sharks, to pH treatment or the like. For example, a commercially available product can be used as the gelatin.

[0030] The coating part 3 may contain other components. For example, an acid may be contained as the other components. As described later, the coating composition may contain an acid, and the acid may be contained in the coating part 3 as a result of the acid being contained. Examples of the acid include organic acids such as acetic acid, citric acid, malic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, and tartaric acid, and inorganic acids.

[0031] Further, polyhydric alcohol may be contained as another component. By containing a polyhydric alcohol in the covering part 3, flexibility can be imparted to the covering part 3, which leads to, for example, reducing the burden on the soles of the bird's feet. As the polyhydric alcohol, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, 1,3-butylene glycol, etc. can be used.

[0032] The perch 1 is produced by applying the coating composition described below to the wooden part 2 and drying it. For example, the coating composition can be scooped up with a spoon and applied to the wooden part from the base with the tip of the branch facing downwards to cover the wooden part with the coating composition. Alternatively, the wooden part 2 may be coated by immersing it in a container containing the coating composition.

[0033] The area of ​​the wooden part 2 that is coated with the coating composition is not particularly limited, and may be a part of the wooden part 2. For example, the whole or part of the area that the bird's claws c come into contact with (such as the area on the lower side (e.g. the lower half) of the periphery of the branch on which the bird perches) may be coated. In this case, since the soles of the bird's feet mainly come into contact with the wooden part 2, this is considered preferable from the viewpoint of preventing bumblefoot. The entire periphery of the branch may be coated.

[0034] The coated composition is dried to form the coated portion 3. There are no particular limitations on the method for drying the coating composition, and natural drying, cold air drying, and the like can be used. The thickness of the coated portion 3 in the perch 1 is, for example, about 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, taking durability and the like into consideration. A thin thickness is prone to unevenness, and from the viewpoint of preventing peeling, a thickness of about 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm is preferable. Note that the thickness of the coated portion 3 does not need to be constant in the coated area, and for example, the lower area of ​​the branch on which the bird perches may be formed thicker than the upper area.

[0035] The perch unit of the present invention is a perch unit consisting of a plurality of perches installed in a breeding cage. At least one of the plurality of perches is the perch of the present invention described above. In the perch unit, perches other than the perch of the present invention may be, for example, commercially available perches.

[0036] The coating composition of the present invention will be described below.

[0037] The coating composition of the present invention is a coating composition for coating the surface of a wooden perch. This composition contains the above-mentioned biopolymer and naturally derived calcium powder, and may further contain an acid and / or a polyhydric alcohol. When the coating composition contains an acid, it becomes easier to prevent the growth of bacteria such as mold until it is dried (until the coating portion is formed). In parakeets, mold may grow in the pericarp (a part of the digestive organ, a bag-like organ that temporarily stores food) and cause pericarp inflammation, and the inclusion of an acid in the coating composition can also lead to the prevention of pericarp inflammation. For example, when the coating composition contains acetic acid as an acid, this acetic acid may be contained as edible vinegar. As edible vinegar, grain vinegar such as rice vinegar or barley black vinegar, fruit vinegar such as apple vinegar or grape vinegar, etc. can be used.

[0038] The coating composition is produced, for example, by mixing a paste component (including a biopolymer) with a naturally occurring calcium powder. The weight ratio of the paste component to the naturally occurring calcium powder is, for example, 30:70 to 70:30, and from the viewpoint of the powder density and adhesion to wood, it is preferably 50:50 to 70:30. The weight of the paste component may be greater than the weight of the naturally occurring calcium powder.

[0039] One example of the composition of the paste component is one that contains 100 g of gelatin, 100 ml to 300 ml of edible vinegar (acidity of about 4.2%), and 50 ml to 200 ml of polyhydric alcohol (for example, glycerin). In this case, the acid contained is 4.2 g to 12.6 g in terms of acetic acid.

[0040] The above-mentioned paste component is prepared by adding gelatin to boiled water and stirring, and then adding vinegar and a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycerin) after the gelatin has dissolved, and stirring. The prepared paste component is mixed with naturally occurring calcium powder to obtain a coating composition. The paste component may be stored in a container or the like and appropriately stored in a refrigerator or the like. The polyhydric alcohol may be omitted from the above-mentioned composition.

[0041] The perch, perch unit, and coating composition of the present invention are not limited to the above-described forms. EXAMPLES

[0042] [Example 1] (a) Preparation of the coating composition The glue component of the coating composition was first prepared using the following materials: Water was boiled in a pot, gelatin was added and stirred, and once the gelatin had dissolved, vinegar and glycerin were added. ·Water 100ml 15g gelatin 30ml vinegar 15ml glycerin

[0043] 30 g of the obtained paste component was mixed with 25 g of mussel shell powder (355 μm to 500 μm) to prepare a coating composition A.

[0044] (b) Preparation of perches Dried cypress branches (moisture content about 10%) were used for the wood part. Cypress branches of different thicknesses were used. For very small birds, φ10mm to 15mm were used, for small birds, φ15mm to 20mm were used, and for medium-sized birds, φ20mm was used. The above-mentioned coating composition A was applied to the cypress branch and dried for more than three days to prepare the perch of Example 1. In the coating part, naturally occurring calcium powder was held in the gelatin (see the upper diagram of FIG. 2).

[0045] In addition, in the perch of Example 1, the covering portion had some flexibility after drying, and this flexibility was maintained even after several days had passed.

[0046] (c) Rearing test The perch of Example 1 was fixed in the breeding cage using a PVC washer and a wing nut, and the birds were bred from December 5 to January 14. The types of birds bred in the test are shown below. Very small birds: Zebra finches (total length approx. 11 cm), Java sparrows (total length approx. 13 cm) Small birds: Budgerigar (total length approx. 17 cm), Parrotlet (total length approx. 13 cm), Lovebird (total length approx. 16 cm), Southern Budgerigar (total length approx. 18 cm), Medium-sized birds: Parakeets (total length approx. 25 cm), Cockatiels (total length approx. 30 cm)

[0047] (d) Evaluation After the test, the perches were observed and some of the covering had peeled off (see the bottom of Figure 2). The PVC washers on the perches were firmly attached, with no significant misalignment, and the wing nuts were not loose. Furthermore, no redness or inflammation occurred on the bottom of the feet of any of the birds.

[0048] Figure 3 shows photographs of the nails of Zebra Finch A before and after the test. The black parts of the nail before the test were painted over with a marker. Comparing it to after the test (bottom left of Figure 3), it can be seen that the growth of the nails was suppressed before and after the use of the perch.

[0049] Furthermore, Figures 4 to 7 show photographs of the claws of other birds before and after the test. In Figures 4 to 7, the three photographs for each bird are, from the left, photographs before use, Example 1, and Example 2. As shown in Figures 4 to 7, compared with the average claw growth rate, the results showed that the growth of the claws was suppressed overall. In particular, the claws of the very active zebra finch (Figure 4) were noticeably scraped and the sharpness of the claw tips was suppressed, resulting in almost no growth of the claws.

[0050] [Example 2] In order to increase the strength of the covering portion, glycerin was removed from the covering composition A in Example 1. Otherwise, the covering composition B was prepared in the same manner, and the perch of Example 2 was prepared. Note that, unlike the perch of Example 1, the covering portion after drying provided an appropriate hardness for scratching.

[0051] The breeding test was conducted from March 9 to April 1 in the same manner as in Example 1. As in Example 1, some of the covering of the perches had peeled off. There were no problems with the PVC washers and wing nuts of the perches, and there were no problems with the soles of the birds' feet.

[0052] As for the evaluation of the nails, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, the same tendency as in Example 1 was observed, and the results showed that the nail growth was generally suppressed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0053] The perch, perch unit, and coating composition of the present invention can suppress the rate at which the bird's nails grow through the bird's spontaneous behavior, and is highly safe, thereby reducing the stress on the bird caused by clipping its nails and the workload on the owner and others. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 Perch 2 Wood section 3 Covering 4 Washers c nail

Claims

1. A perch comprising a wooden part and a covering part covering the surface of the wooden part, wherein naturally occurring calcium powder is held in a biopolymer within the covering part.

2. 2. The perch according to claim 1, characterized in that the biopolymer is gelatin and the naturally occurring calcium powder is shell powder.

3. 3. The perch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wooden portion is made of dry wood having a moisture content of 20% or less.

4. A perch unit comprising a plurality of perches installed in a breeding cage, A perch unit, characterized in that at least one of the plurality of perches is the perch described in claim 1 or claim 2.

5. A coating composition for coating the surface of a wooden perch, comprising a biopolymer and naturally occurring calcium powder.

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