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.

The invention relates to a rack (10) for receiving fattening poultry cages, (20) comprising: a frame structure (12), a plurality of levels (14) for receiving a plurality of fattening poultry cages (20), and a plurality of conveying means (16) associated with each of the levels (14). The means of conveyance (16) are arranged in such a way that they transport the cages (20) located in the rack (10) within the respective level (14) to and/or away from a unloading point (30). Further, the invention relates to a fattening poultry cage (20) for arrangement in such a rack (10). Finally, the invention relates to a system of racks (10) and cages (20) according to the invention. The system may comprise an industrial truck (22) with lifting means for removing cages (20) from or feeding cages into the rack (10), the lifting means comprising a plurality of fork carriages (24) arranged vertically one above the other and movable in a vertical direction relative to one another.

The present embodiments provide a method of building an aviary comprising a floor, a roof, a frame, an exterior wall, and a cage tower including a plurality of support members. The method includes disposing the cage tower on the floor. The method also includes attaching the frame to the plurality of support members. The method also includes attaching at least one of the exterior wall and the roof to the frame. The present embodiments also provide an aviary having a cage tower including a plurality of support members. The cage tower is disposed on a floor. A frame is attached to the plurality of support members. At least one of an exterior wall and a roof is attached to the frame.

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 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.

A method of tending to livestock within a livestock confinement facility includes a vehicle having a support frame, a drive unit, and an elevated platform. The support frame extends vertically upward from a base and has a lower portion and an upper portion with the drive unit being operatively attached to the base. The elevated platform is affixed to the upper portion of the support frame and configured to support an operator thereon while moving along the livestock confinement facility. The method includes supporting the operator on the elevated platform within the livestock confinement facility. The method further includes moving the vehicle along a floor of the livestock confinement facility in order to move the operator along the livestock confinement facility from atop the elevated platform such that the operator tends to livestock from atop the elevated platform.

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.

An aviary includes a cage and a resilient platform coupled to the cage. The resilient platform is resilient such that movement of a bird on the resilient platform causes the resilient platform to flex and then rebound to loosen a deposit from the resilient platform but not permit the deposit to pass through the resilient platform.