A colony basket and method of using the same for handling poultry from DOC through the growing process and on to a production facility comprising a harvesting system, a loading system, a transport system, an unloading and storing system, hanging system and cleaning system. The system and method performs the steps of harvesting and colonizing live poultry into a singly stackable and transportable colony basket, stacking and loading the trays on a transport, unloading and temporarily storing the poultry for subsequent processing. The system and method further includes the use of a modular colony basket for interchangeable use with the described system.

A ring clip for connecting two wire mesh panels. The clip has a first arm and a second arm. The arms connected at respective first ends by a hinge. A second end of the first arm defines a recess which is adapted to receive a second end of the second arm when the clip is in a closed condition. The first arm includes a first tab, and the second arm includes a second tab, such that, in the closed condition the first and second tabs are substantially opposed. The first and second tabs are substantially misaligned laterally.

A crate assembly includes a plurality of members defining an interior of the crate assembly, where the plurality of members includes a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. A frame is formed in one of the plurality of members, the frame having a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires that define a door opening. A door is pivotally coupled to the frame about a pivot wire of the frame to move between an open position and a closed position. A latch assembly is pivotally coupled to a horizontal wire of the frame. The latch assembly includes a wire having a first end, a second end and a transverse portion, the wire forming a first portion defined between the first end and the transverse portion and a second portion defined between the second end and the transverse portion.

A box for safe chick transportation comprises a truncated or frusto-section of a rectangular pyramid structure, with a greater lineal dimension at the base of the compartment than at its top such that when grouped in any number in excess of two, they provide a V-shaped passageway for adequate ventilation between the plurality of boxes. A vertically aligned cylindrical insert placed within the rectangular pyramid structure encompassing at least a portion of the internal area thereby eliminating corners to decrease chick mortality. The rectangular pyramid structure a base compartment operable to receive a temperature control element therein for temperature control of the box contents.

A plenum flooring system installed over high density insulation panels, preventing heat loss to ground and intrusion of ground moisture. The system includes one or more flooring segments, each containing at least one surface opening to the plenum space, and a plenum ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a blower and air inlet openings in seals arranged along the perimeter of the plenum flooring segments at the walls of the interior of a poultry house. The blower withdraws air from the plenum space through the surface opening of the flooring segment and discharges it into the poultry house, creating a continuous flow of air to maintain uniform flooring surface temperatures and remove moisture that migrates to the plenum space from manure on the perforated flooring surface due to moisture gradient, then a refrigerated dehumidifier/air circulation unit to condense moisture in the air and discharges that liquid to the house exterior.

A plenum flooring system installed over high density insulation panels, preventing heat loss to ground and intrusion of ground moisture. The system includes one or more flooring segments, each containing at least one surface opening to the plenum space, and a plenum ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a blower and air inlet openings in seals arranged along the perimeter of the plenum flooring segments at the walls of the interior of a poultry house. The blower withdraws air from the plenum space through the surface opening of the flooring segment and discharges it into the poultry house, creating a continuous flow of air to maintain uniform flooring surface temperatures and remove moisture that migrates to the plenum space from manure on the perforated flooring surface due to moisture gradient, then a refrigerated dehumidifier/air circulation unit to condense moisture in the air and discharges that liquid to the house exterior.

A laying nest is provided with an improved ejection system, in which the risk of expelling eggs together with the hens is suppressed. The floor of the laying nest can rotate in both directions. Thanks to this arrangement, at first it can be rotated in a first direction for inclining it towards the egg collection area and ensuring that all the laid eggs are removed; next, it can be rotated in a second, opposite direction for inclining it towards the hen coop and thus expelling the hens from the laying nest. In a preferred embodiment, the driving arrangement of the ejection system of the laying nest is entirely arranged below the floor of the laying nest, so as to not occupy room in the laying nest and to be protected from manures and dirt that may be present in the laying nest.

A vehicle and method of tending to an elevated agriculture includes a base extending from a forward base portion to a rearward base portion, a support frame, an elevated platform, a guide rail, and a drive unit. The elevated platform is connected to the support frame such that the elevated platform is positioned vertically above the base and horizontally between the forward and rearward base portions. The elevated platform is configured to selectively, vertically raise upward from a lower height toward a higher height. The guide rail extends vertically upward from the elevated platform and horizontally surrounds at least a portion of the elevated platform for bounding an operator atop the elevated platform. The drive unit is configured to selectively direct horizontal movement of the base with the elevated platform thereon for supporting the operator on the elevated platform while moving the elevated platform within the agriculture facility.

A poultry holding system that can be erected tool-free by assembling lengthwise and crosswise members on support posts. Multiple upright support posts are set up in an evenly spaced grid. The crosswise members and lengthwise members are constructed as U-profile rails, with through-holes in the horizontal sections of the U-profiles that allow the members to be assembled and supported on the support posts. The poultry holding system thus constructed can have at least two tiers, one above the other. The assembly components are designed to be particularly economical, which allows greater flexibility in the design and construction of the poultry holding system to accommodate the constraints of the particular facility.

The invention relates to broiler containers having a floor and side walls defining an inner volume which is designed and configured to receive and accommodate at least five live broilers, wherein the broiler container is designed and configured to be stackable with broiler containers of the same construction and has at least one ventilation opening and at least one air outflow opening, which broiler container is characterised in that the broiler container comprises at least one segment of a ventilation or air outflow column which extends through the inner volume and has at least one ventilation or air outflow opening at a distance from the side walls, wherein each segment of the ventilation or air outflow column is designed and configured for connection to corresponding segments of broiler containers of the same construction and also for connection to an active ventilation system. The invention relates also to a unit comprising at least two containers, to an arrangement comprising a unit and a ventilation system, to a transport trailer, to a poultry slaughterhouse, and to a method for ventilating the broilers.