Abstract: Apparatus for unloading poultry onto a conveyor from a cage having an opening in the side thereof, wherein a frame adapted to be positioned adjacent to the conveyor supports a carriage for holding the cage, the carriage being movably mounted on the frame in such a manner that the carriage can be moved to incline the cage and cause the poultry contained therein to slide out of the cage through the opening. A chute is attached to and carried by the carriage, the chute being so positioned that the birds sliding out of the cages slide onto the chute and then slide downward onto the conveyor. The use of the chute insures that, regardless of the position of the cage when doors of the cages are opened, the birds can fall no further than the distance from the cage to the chute to thereby prevent bruising of the birds.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for collecting poultry wherein an enclosure door aligned with the floor of the enclosure is inclined at an angle of at least about 12.degree. from horizontal and poultry is placed on the door and released to slide down the door and into the enclosure. Preferably, both the door and the floor are inclined to an angle of at least about 12.degree., with both lying in substantially the same plane. The construction of the door, and preferably the floor also, is such that a bird placed on the door will slide down the door when the door is inclined at an angle of at least about 12.degree. to horizontal. In the apparatus, banks of such enclosures are secured together in a back-to-back relationship to form a unitary structure which can be handled as one piece. The structure is inclined in one direction to fill the enclosures on one side and is then inclined in the other direction to fill the enclosures on the other side.