Abstract: The invention concerns a container for handling small livestock, particularly poultry, in the transportation of the poultry from a poultryhouse to a central factory at which the poultry is processed. The container comprises a frame of openwork construction which supports several tiers of superposed drawers mounted for movement relative thereto between open and closed positions. The container comprises locking mechanism which is operative to lock all the drawers simultaneously. The container comprises a lifting formation which enables the container to be lifted by (for example) a modified forklift truck, and as a consequence of such lifting, the locking mechanism is automatically rendered operative. Desirably, the primary transporter (lorry or trailer) upon which the container is placed by the forklift truck is provided with a formation which is operative to retain the locking mechanism operative while the container rests on the lorry.