Abstract: An apparatus for automatically handling palletized poultry coops containing live birds to empty the birds from the coops for hanging. A pallet loaded with tiers of poultry coops after removal from the livehaul truck by a forklift is placed on a conveyor to move automatically to the input end of a coop infeed conveyor extending transverse to the pallet conveyor. Upon alignment of the pallet with the coop infeed conveyor, a limit switch stops the pallet conveyor and an extractor is actuated which pushes a tier of coops off the pallet and onto the coop infeed conveyor. The tier of coops is moved along to an unstacker comprising a lay-down unit having a rotor with coop support arms arranged in quadrature such that the coops are laid down on an inclined conveyor with each quarter of a revolution. The inclined conveyor moves each of the coops in succession to a dumping unit that empties the coop.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving a plurality of tiers of poultry coops containing live birds at an unloading area and automatically handling the coops to unload the birds therefrom at a location outside the hang room. A lay down unit accepts the coops one tier at a time and tilts it from an upright disposition to an inclined disposition, laying the coops down on an inclined conveyor that moves the coops to the end of the incline. The lead coop falls over the end and into a coop unloading unit having a saddle adapted to catch the coop and hold it suspended above an auxiliary conveyor, permitting the coop door to freely open and discharge the birds. A mechanism within the unloading unit moves the coop out of the saddle and onto a coop elevator, causing the coop door to automatically close. A coop elevator takes the coops to a coop inverter which turns each coop over. The coops move to a restack station provided with an outfeed conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing baby chicks in a hatchery comprises a turntable disposed concentrically within an annular conveyor. The center area of the turntable may be provided with a downwardly extending funnel, or provided with a funnel and an adjacent disposal system inlet feed channel. A conveyor is included for transporting chicks between the turntable and the annular conveyor.Depending upon the particular chick processing sequence of operations, either or both the turntable and annular conveyor may be provided with a plurality of tray rings. In addition, the turntable is provided with debeaking mechanisms.