Soft gel delivery system for treating poultry

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of treating poultry hatchlings in a hatchling tray. The method comprises of providing a soft gel form capable of being dispensed through a spray nozzle, providing a spray dispensing apparatus, the apparatus being capable of delivering a predetermined volume of the gel as a plurality of small beadlets through a plurality of nozzles, placing the hatchling tray containing the hatchlings beneath the nozzles of the dispensing apparatus, dispensing the predetermined volume of the soft gel containing the therapeutic agent as small beadlets into the hatchling tray and allowing the hatchlings to consume the beadlets. The present invention is also directed to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a therapeutic agent in a soft gel into a hatchling tray of poultry hatchlings.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating poultry hatchlings in a hatchling tray, the method comprising:
 providing a soft gel,   providing a dispensing apparatus for delivering a volume of the soft gel as a plurality of beadlets through a plurality of openings along a manifold head wherein the plurality of openings on the manifold nozzle head approximately spans the length or width of a hatchling tray,   placing the hatchling tray containing poultry hatchlings beneath the nozzle openings of the dispensing apparatus,   dispensing the volume of the soft gel as beadlets onto the hatchlings in the hatchling tray,   passing the hatchling tray beneath the openings for distribution of the beadlets to the hatchlings contained therein, and   allowing the hatchlings to consume the beadlets.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the volume of the soft gel is a predetermined volume between about 15 ml and about 50 ml per tray. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the soft gel contains a therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a live organism. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the live organism is a vaccine. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the vaccine is one or more immunizing organisms selected from  Salmonella,  Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Bursal disease, Newcastle disease, Infectious Laryngotracheitis,  mycoplasma,  Pneumovirus and coccidiosis. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the hatchlings consume the beadlets off of the hatchling feathers and the floor of the tray within minutes. 
     
     
         24 . A method of providing a treatment system for treating poultry hatchlings, the method comprising:
 selecting a powder to be dissolved in water to form a flowable gel, said selecting of said powder being performed such that said flowable gel, when mixed with water and a therapeutical agent, is edible by poultry hatchlings and said therapeutic agent is maintainable in a uniform suspension in said flowable gel;   configuring a delivery apparatus for delivering said flowable gel, said delivery apparatus comprising a manifold defining a plurality of openings, wherein said configuring comprises selecting a configuration for said manifold such that said apparatus be configured to deliver beadlets of said flowable gel;   providing said powder; and   providing said delivery apparatus so as to enable preparation of said flowable gel with said powder thereby enabling treatment of a plurality of poultry hatchlings by delivering said flowable gel with said delivery apparatus.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , further comprising mixing said powder with water, and adding said therapeutic agent thereby forming said flowable gel. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein selecting said powder is performed based on a viscosity of said flowable gel. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein selecting said powder comprises selecting a polysaccharide powder. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein selecting said powder comprises selecting a carrageenan powder. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein said mixing comprises adjusting a concentration of said therapeutic agent based on a volume of said flowable gel delivered to said poultry hatchlings. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a vaccine. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the vaccine is one or more immunizing organisms selected from  Salmonella,  Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Bursal disease, Newcastle disease, Infectious Laryngotracheitis,  mycoplasma,  Pneumovirus and coccidiosis. 
     
     
         32 . A method of providing a product for a treatment system for treating poultry hatchlings, the method comprising:
 selecting a powder to be dissolved in water to form a flowable gel, said selecting of said powder being performed such that said flowable gel, when mixed with water and a therapeutic agent, is edible by poultry hatchlings and said therapeutic agent is maintainable in a uniform suspension in said flowable gel;   producing said powder in a form such that said flowable gel is deliverable with a delivery apparatus comprising a plurality of openings, and such that said flowable gel is deliverable in beadlets via said openings; and   providing said powder so as to enable preparation of said flowable gel with said powder thereby enabling treatment of a plurality of poultry hatchlings by delivering said flowable gel via said delivery apparatus.   
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein selecting said powder comprises selecting a polysaccharide powder. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein selecting said powder comprises selecting a carrageenan powder.