Poultry loading apparatus and method

An apparatus for loading and carrying a plurality of birds comprising at least one mobile compartment having a generally air tight body adapted to hold a plurality of birds;

• said compartment having a first opening large enough to admit the passage therethrough of selected birds, said opening further having means to receive a hose, large enough to allow passage therethrough of selected birds, and vacuum means connected to another opening in said compartment to suck birds through said hose into said first opening of said compartment.

Mobile apparatus for transporting poultry, comprising an enclosed container adapted to hold a plurality of birds, an opening in said container large enough to allow passage of birds therethrough, and air circulating means at an end of said container remote from said opening, said container being provided with a plurality of compartment, each of which includes conveyor means for moving the birds from said opening toward said remote end of the container.

A method for loading and carrying a plurality of poultry in a mobile container having compartments arranged in a plurality of tiers, each compartment including individual conveyor means extending the length thereof from an open end to a remote end, comprising:

• depositing birds at the open end of a compartment on the associated conveyor means;
• moving said conveyor means toward the remote end of said compartment allowing more birds to be deposited at said open end;
• and ventilating said container by forced air circulation.