Patent ID: 8272926
Filing Date: 2012-09-25
Classification: A22B

Abstract:
1. A method for controlled atmosphere stunning of poultry comprising the steps of: (i) loading one or more batches of poultry confined in cages in a stunning chamber having an entrance and exit and one or more doors to seal the entrance and exit; (ii) closing the door to the stunning chamber to sealably enclose the one or more batches of poultry in the stunning chamber to isolate the atmosphere proximate the poultry; (iii) introducing a gaseous mixture to the isolated atmosphere and forcibly recirculating the gaseous mixture within the stunning chamber while the cages are stationary to stun the one or more batches of poultry; (iv) forcibly exhausting the gaseous mixture used to stun the poultry from the isolated atmosphere in the sealed stunning chamber to a surrounding atmosphere; and (v) opening the door and advancing the stunned poultry confined in cages from the stunning chamber.