Walkway and walkway system for an aviary

Abstract

The present embodiments provide an aviary, a walkway for an aviary, and a walkway system for an aviary. The walkway includes a ramp and at least one support disposed below the ramp.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An aviary comprising:
 at least one cage tower;   an aisle adjacent the at least one cage tower;   a ramp disposed in the aisle and adjacent the at least one cage tower and configured to facilitate bird access to the at least one cage tower; and   at least one retractable bracket coupled to the at least one cage tower and configured to support the ramp when the at least one bracket is in an extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The aviary of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp is solid. 
     
     
         3 . The aviary of  claim 2 , wherein the ramp has an upper surface, and further wherein said upper surface is configured with ridges and valleys. 
     
     
         4 . The aviary of  claim 2 , wherein the ramp is configured to create air turbulence. 
     
     
         5 . The aviary of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retractable bracket is configured to fix the ramp from horizontal movement when the at least one retractable bracket is supporting the ramp and in the extended position. 
     
     
         6 . The aviary of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cage tower includes a plurality of levels, the at least one retractable bracket comprising a plurality of retractable brackets, each of the plurality of retractable brackets being disposed at each of the plurality of levels. 
     
     
         7 . The aviary of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp comprises a first positioning member and the at least one retractable bracket comprises a second positioning member, the first positioning member and the second positioning member cooperating to fix the ramp from horizontal movement. 
     
     
         8 . The aviary of  claim 7 , wherein the first positioning member and the second positioning member allow upward movement of the ramp when fixing the ramp from horizontal movement. 
     
     
         9 . The aviary of  claim 7 , wherein the first positioning member is a lip extending downward from the ramp. 
     
     
         10 . The aviary of  claim 7 , wherein the second positioning member is a slot configured to receive the lip. 
     
     
         11 . The aviary of  claim 7 , wherein the first positioning member is proximate the at least one cage tower. 
     
     
         12 . The aviary of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one retractable bracket includes a third positioning member that is distal the at least one cage tower. 
     
     
         13 . The aviary of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ramp hanger. 
     
     
         14 . The aviary of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one ramp hanger is defined by at least one hook disposed at an upper end of the ramp. 
     
     
         15 . The aviary of  claim 13 , further comprising a hanger support configured to couple to the at least one ramp hanger. 
     
     
         16 . The aviary of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one ramp hanger includes at least one slot configured to fit over the hanger support. 
     
     
         17 . The aviary of  claim 15 , wherein the hanger support is retractable.