Abstract:
This invention relates to a method for promoting growth of young chicken comprising the step;
       offering feed in a layered manner in subsequent order of pellet-size for adjusting the pellet-size to the size of the young chicken during a whole brooding cycle for the feed being attractive during the whole brooding cycle as perceived by the young chicken.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method of promoting growth and welfare of young chicken. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention aims to provide an improved method for promoting growth of young chicken. 
         [0003]    According to a first aspect of the invention this is realized with a method for promoting growth of young chicken comprising the step;
       offering feed in a layered manner in subsequent order of pellet-size for adjusting the pellet-size to the size of the young chicken during a whole brooding cycle for the feed being attractive during the whole brooding cycle as perceived by the young chicken.       
 
         [0005]    The offering feed in a layered manner in subsequent order of pellet-size ensures that the feed is attractive for the young chicken during the whole brooding cycle because first the smaller pellet-size is offered to the young chicken and subsequently the pellet-size grows along with the young chicken. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the step;
       providing a trough provided with subsequent layers of feed in subsequent order of pellet-size.       
 
         [0008]    Providing the subsequent layers in a trough makes the method even more suitable for young chicks, renders the feeding process more controllable and prevents waste of feed. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the step;
       filling of the trough only once during a brooding cycle.       
 
         [0011]    Filling the trough only once during a brooding cycle renders the brooding process more economical and controllable since less intervention is required. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the steps;
       providing a lighting device for illuminating the young chicken while offering feed,   Illuminating the young chicken with a lighting intensity within the range of 80 to 100 lux, specifically about 90 lux. more specifically 90 lux.       
 
         [0015]    Illuminating the young chicken with a lighting intensity of about 90 lux surprisingly promotes growth of the young chicken. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the step;
       providing the trough in a crate for accommodating a group of young chicken, wherein the group consists of 40 to 60 young chicken, specifically about 50 young chicken, more specifically 50 young chicken.       
 
         [0018]    Accommodating a group of young chicken in a crate, wherein the group consists of about 50 young chicken surprisingly promotes growth of the young chicken. The group size of about 50 turned out to be an optimal group size which is on the one hand economical feasible and on the other hand is small enough for the young chicken to familiarize. Moreover, the method of promoting growth is more predictable and manageable in a relative small group of young chicken. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the step;
       providing the layers comprising different type of food.       
 
         [0021]    Different type of food in the layers ensures the young chicken receive the nutrition&#39;s they need during the whole brooding cycle. In this connection, different type of food means a variation in the composition of the food. The composition of the food in the different layers differ in share of substances such as protein, fats, cellulose, calcium, phosphor, lysine and vitamins. 
         [0022]    According to a further aspect of the invention this is realized with feed for poultry, specifically young chicken, in a climate chamber, wherein the feed comprises a binder for preventing pulverising of the feed. 
         [0023]    The feed comprising a binder for preventing pulverising of the feed lowers the amount of dust and fine particles, which is important in connection with the closed environment created by the climate chamber. Moreover the binder prevents waist of feed, which is very important in connection. An example of a binder is a layer around the pellet, wherein the layer comprises fat, specifically wherein the layer is a fatty layer for guaranteeing the integrity of the pellet. 
         [0024]    According to a further aspect of the invention this is realized with a system of a trough and feed, preferably feed according to the invention, wherein the feed is provided in the trough in a layered manner, wherein subsequent layers are arranged in order of pellet-size for adjusting the pellet-size to the size of the young chicken during a whole brooding cycle for the feed being attractive during the whole brooding cycle as perceived by the young chicken. 
         [0025]    According to a further aspect of the invention this is realized with a crate for young chicken, wherein the crate comprises one or more systems of trough and feed according to the invention. 
         [0026]    According to a further aspect of the invention this is realized with a climate chamber comprising a crate according to the invention, preferably a stack of crates. 
         [0027]    Both the crate and the climate chamber with heat exchangers as well as the trough are described in WO-2009/014422 by applicant HATCHTECH GROUP B.V., which application is considered comprised in the content of this application as filed by reference. 
         [0028]    The invention further relates to a device comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. 
         [0029]    The invention further relates to a method comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. 
         [0030]    The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantageous advantages. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The present invention in particular uses a climate chamber or incubator chamber, also disclosed in WO-2009/014422, in particular suitable for the current invention and described in the  FIGS. 1-7   a  &amp;  8 . The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to an example illustrated diagrammatically in the drawings, in which: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a heat exchanger according to the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional perspective view of a part of the heat exchanger from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional side view of a part of the heat exchanger from  FIG. 1  together with part of a stack of crates; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a highly diagrammatic top view of a climate chamber according to the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a vertical view in longitudinal section of the climate chamber according to  FIG. 4 , which view in longitudinal section is taken along arrows V in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a crate from the stack of crates as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7   a  shows a first vertical view in longitudinal section of the crate from  FIG. 6 , which view in longitudinal section is taken along arrows VII in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7   b  show a trough of the crate of  7   a.    
           [0040]      FIG. 8  shows a second vertical view in longitudinal section of the crate from  FIG. 6 , which view in longitudinal section is taken along arrows VIII in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0041]    In the  FIG. 7   a  in a cross sectional side view a crate  2  is shown with a trough  102  for poultry, such as young chicken  4 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 7   b  shows a detail of  FIG. 1   a  with the trough  102  with feed  103   a,    103   b,    103   c,    103   d.  The feed is provided in different layers  105   a,    105   b,    105   c,    105   d.  Here, each layer extends substantially horizontal in the trough  102 , preferably completely within the trough  102 . Two subsequent layers  105   a,    105   b,    105   c,    105   d  comprise feed with different pellet-size d 1 , d 2 , d 3 , d 4 . Here, each layer comprises feed with different pellet-size d 1 , d 2 . d 3 , d 4 . The pellet-size d 1 , d 2 , d 3 , d 4  increases with the height level of the layer  105   a,    105   b,    105   c,    105   d  in the trough  102  such that the pellet-size d 1 , d 2 , d 3 , d 4  of the feed that is offered to the young chicken  104  grows along with the chicken. Thus the feed  103   e  in the layer  105   c  has a pellet-size d 3  which is greater than the pellet-size d 4  of the feed  103   d  in the layer  105   d,  and so forth. Here d 4  is about 2 mm in diameter the pellet has a length of about 5 mm. The pellet-size increases stepwise with about 1 mm in diameter and length up to the pellet-size in layer  105   a  having a diameter d 1  of 5 mm and a length of 8 mm of the pellet. Here the number of layers  105   a,    105   b,    105   c,    105   d  is four which simplifies the filling of the trough  102  and still is effective to promote growth of the young chicken in combination with filling the trough  102  only once during a brooding cycle. The number of layers is preferably &lt;6 for simplifying the filling of the trough  102 . The trough  102  has a volume such that the trough, or troughs,  102  need to be filled only once in a brooding cycle. Thus the trough  102  contains all the feed  103   a,    103   b,    103   c,    103   d  the young chicken  100  need. A brooding cycle means the life of a young chicken between day zero until for example day four of its life. The end of the cycle differs with the type of young chicken between day 3 up to about one week. The brooding cycle aims at keeping the young chicken in its optimal temperature zone during their first days. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows in a perspective view the crate  2  of  FIG. 7   a , provided with two troughs  102  at two opposite sides of the crate  2 . The crate  2  has dimensions W, D, H such that a group of young chicken can be bred within the crate, wherein the group consists of about 50 young chicken. Here the crate  2  offers a room for living for the chicken of about 60×60×13 cm. The young chicken  100  need to have their vital necessities, such as feed, water, light and fresh air, within a radius of between of about 25 cm up to about 50 cm to promote growth of the young chicken  100 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows a stack of crates  2  situated in a climate chamber (partly shown). Here, the lighting devices  6  are provided with a wall of the climate chamber such that each crate  2  can be individually illuminated for illuminating the young chicken  100 . The young chicken are illuminated with a lighting intensity of about 90 lux which surprisingly promoted growth of the young chicken  4 . The lighting devices  6  are arranged such that the maximum possible distance between a young chicken  100  and a lighting device is &lt;about 50 cm, which surprisingly promotes welfare and growth of the young chicken  100 . 
         [0045]    The present invention is in particular suitable for a climate chamber or incubator chamber, also disclosed in WO-2009/014422, and described below. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  show a heat exchanger for use in a climate chamber. This heat exchanger is constructed around a panel-shaped body  21  having one or more fluid lines  22 . The panel-shaped body  21  is provided with perforations  25  and  26 . These perforations make it possible for a gas stream (arrow A) to pass through the panel-shaped body  21  in a direction transverse to the panel-shaped body  21 . Similarly to a radiator, the panel-shaped body  21  can be brought to a specific temperature by means of the fluid flowing through the one or more fluid lines. The one or more fluid lines extend between a feed line and a discharge line for said fluid. The panel-shaped body and the fluid lines will usually be made of a metal and form an integral part of one another (for example by being welded to one another, soldered to one another or by extruding the lines and the body in a single operation to form a single extrusion profile). Such a heat exchanger, as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , can also be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of WO 00/08922. This (known) heat exchanger is additionally provided, in particular, with gassing ducts  28 . 
         [0047]    The gassing ducts  28  run parallel to one another and along the panel-shaped body  21 . The gassing ducts  28  are fed by one or more medium supply ducts  27  and are connected thereto by passage openings  34 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a tubular medium supply duct  27  is provided along opposite sides of the panel-shaped body  21  so that the gassing ducts  28  can be supplied with medium from two sides simultaneously. The gassing ducts  28  extend between the latter and transversely to the medium supply ducts  27 . The gassing ducts  28  are provided at a centre-to-centre distance C from one another in such a manner that in each case one intermediate zone  39  of the panel-shaped body  21  remains clear between two gassing ducts  28  situated one above the other. The height B of this intermediate zone  39  may be, for example, 7 to 10 cm, such as approximately 8.5 cm in this embodiment. The gas stream A can pass through the panel-shaped body  21  via the perforations  25  in this intermediate zone  39 . 
         [0048]    Each gassing duct  28  has an interior  29  which is delimited by a top wall  35 , a bottom wall  37  and two side walls  36 . The panel-shaped body  21  in each case extends with a part  30  through the gassing duct  28 , which part forms a partition, as it were, which divides the gassing duct  28  into a first duct compartment  32  and a second duct compartment  33 . Both compartments extend along the entire length of the gassing duct  28  and are in this case of equal size and shape. However, the duct compartments do not have to be of equal size and shape. It is also conceivable for there to be only one compartment if the panel-shaped body delimits a side wall of the gassing duct, for example, if the part  30  has been cut away, for example, or if the gassing duet has been placed against or close to the panel-shaped body on the outside of the panel-shaped body. 
         [0049]    In order to ensure that the medium supplied via the gassing ducts  28  flows out along the panel-shaped body  21 , distributed in the surrounding area, in particular the gas stream directed transversely to the panel-shaped body  21 , each gassing duct  28  is provided with outflow openings  31  arranged over the length of said gassing duct in a distributed manner. By varying the size of these outflow openings  31  and/or the distance between adjacent outflow openings  31 , an even delivery along the entire length of the gassing duct  28  can be achieved. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , in each case only the second duct compartment  33  is provided with outflow openings  31  and the first duct compartment is substantially closed, except for the passage openings  34  and the perforations  26 . This offers the advantage that the medium supplied spreads along the length of the gassing duct in the first compartment while, in the meantime, the temperature is influenced (that is to say is increased or reduced) by the temperature of the part  30  of the panel-shaped body, which part acts as a partition, then flows to the second compartment via the perforations  26  in said part  30  which act as a partition, while, in the meantime, the temperature of the medium is influenced again, and then flows to the outflow openings via the second compartment, while the temperature of the medium is in this case too influenced again in the meantime. 
         [0050]    The medium supply ducts  27  are provided along opposite edges of the panel-shaped body  21  and attached thereto. Thus, the heat exchanger can be produced as a modular unit, of which only the two medium supply ducts have to be connected upon installation. Furthermore, the feed line  23  and discharge line  24  for fluid are accommodated inside the medium supply ducts. In practice, this can be achieved relatively easily without the dimensions of the medium supply ducts having to increase substantially. After all, the fluid will generally be a fluid such as water, so that these lines  23  and  24  can be relatively small, compared to the supply duct for gaseous medium. Another advantage is the fact the medium supply duct thus protects the line  23  and/or  24  against damage and that the temperature of the medium can be influenced, if desired—by heating or cooling by means of the line  23  and/or  24 —while it is flowing through the medium supply duct. 
         [0051]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the interior  29  of each gassing duct  28  touches the exterior  38  of a fluid line  22 , both at the top wall  35  and at the bottom wall  37 . This improves the exchange of heat between the fluid and the medium. 
         [0052]    According to a further embodiment, each gassing duct  28  of the heat exchanger  1  is provided with a trough  40  having a first end  41  and a second end  42 . These troughs  40  can be used for moisturization by filling them with a liquid, in particular water, and allowing it to evaporate. When used in a climate chamber containing birds, these troughs  40  can also be used as drinking troughs. In order to simplify the filling of the troughs  40  with liquid, the latter are in particular provided with an overflow  43  near the second end, and the troughs are staggered one above the other, in each case with the second end  42  of a trough  40  situated at a higher level above the first end  41  of a trough  40  situated at a lower level. The liquid can then be supplied at the first end  41  of the top trough, will then fill the top trough up to the filling level determined by the overflow, subsequently fill the trough situated underneath up to the filling level determined by the overflow thereof, etcetera, until the bottom trough is also filled. In order to ensure that the liquid flows to each subsequent trough and to prevent flooding, in case there is an obstacle in one trough, the first longitudinal top trough edge  44  is higher than the second longitudinal top trough edge  45 , which is closer to the panel-shaped body  21 , and the top wall  35  of the gassing duct  28  in each case continues up to the second longitudinal top trough edge  45 . The liquid can then pass the obstacle via the top wall  35 . 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each gassing duct is furthermore provided, if desired, with a fastening means, such as a receiving slot  46 , for attaching a lighting fixture  47  (illustrated only in  FIG. 2 ). This fixture  47  is provided with a row comprising a plurality of lighting LEDs  48 ,  49  (LED=light-emitting diode). Here, several LEDs  49  are in each case directed towards the trough  40  underneath (directional arrow  80  in  FIG. 2 ) in order to illuminate the latter. The applicant has found that if the troughs  40  are drinking troughs for poultry, in particular for chicks, it is advantageous if these LEDs emit red light. The birds can then easily find the drinking trough. Other LEDs  48  may be directed in various directions (directional arrows  81  and  82  in  FIG. 2 ) in order to ensure even illumination and prevent blinding the birds. 
         [0054]    The heat exchanger  1  can be used in a climate chamber in an advantageous manner, in particular in a climate chamber for rearing animals, in particular very young animals, such as chicks less than 4 days old or of an age of 0 or 1 days. Such very young animals, such as in particular chicks, are not yet able to control their own body temperature very well. In order to rear them well, it is important that they are kept at a predetermined temperature, which is dependent on the type of animal, in particular during the initial phase after hatching (birth), and to control this temperature very accurately (that is to say with an accuracy of ±1° C., preferably with an accuracy of ±0.5° C., or with a greater accuracy, such as ±0.2° C. or less). The term climate chamber is particularly understood to mean a device having an interior space, which can control the temperature in and throughout this interior space with an accuracy of ±1° C., preferably with an accuracy of ±0.5° C., or with a greater accuracy, such as ±0.2° C. or less (that is to say, the greatest difference in temperature between two spots in said space will be at most the value of said ‘accuracy’). Controlling the temperature with such accuracy is also often desirable when ripening fruit, hatching eggs and with other temperature-dependent processes. In that case, a climate chamber is used, the walls of which are insulated and in the interior of which a certain desired climatized environment can be maintained. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 4 and 5  highly diagrammatically show such a climate chamber  3 , which in this case is in particular intended for rearing chicks which have just hatched. This climate chamber is delimited on the outside by thermally insulated side walls  14 , a thermally insulated ceiling  16  and a floor  15 , which is preferably also thermally insulated. The climate chamber  3  has at least one chamber compartment  4  in which the young chicken are kept or stored under conditioned circumstances, such as chicks, is placed. In the illustrated example, there are two rows with five chamber compartments  4  each. The rows are on either side of a corridor  5  and are accessible from the corridor  5  via doors  9 . Entering and exiting the climate chamber  3  is possible by means of at least one door  10 ,  11 . In this example, a door  10  is provided at one end of the corridor, which is intended in particular for entering the corridor  5  of the climate chamber, and a door  11  is provided at the other end which is intended in particular for exiting the corridor  5  of the climate chamber. 
         [0056]    At one end of each row of chamber compartments  4  an inlet chamber  13  is in each case provided for introducing conditioned gas, such as air, into the upstream chamber compartment  4 , and an outlet chamber  13  is in each case provided at the other end of each row of chamber compartments  4  for collecting gas coming from the downstream chamber compartment  4 . Although it is not required, it is energetically advantageous subsequently to feed the gas from the outlet chamber  13  back to the inlet chamber. The gas may be fed back along the top of the chamber compartments, as is illustrated in WO 00/08922. However, this method requires a lot of space and it is more advantageous to feed the gas back via the corridor  5 , as is indicated in  FIG. 4  by means of arrows G. This leads to a significant reduction in the amount of space required. In addition, another result thereof is that the corridor  5  is also conditioned, albeit slightly less well than the chamber compartments  3 , so that it is possible to open the door  9  of a chamber compartment during use while causing minimal disturbance to the climate. 
         [0057]    In  FIG. 4 , the conveying stream of the products to be treated in the climate chamber, such as chicks, is indicated by means of arrows K. The products are preferably discharged via door  11  and the products are preferably supplied via door  10 ,  11  since the supply side can thus be kept relatively clean, which prevents contamination. 
         [0058]    The chamber compartments of this climate chamber are provided with heat exchangers at opposite sides. The inflow side of the chamber compartment which is most upstream is in each case delimited by a heat exchanger  7 , the outflow side of the most downstream chamber compartment is in each case delimited by a heat exchanger  8  and adjacent chamber compartments are in each case delimited with respect to one another by a heat exchanger  1 . These heat exchangers  1 ,  7  and  8  may be substantially identical with respect to one another, but given the fact that the heat exchangers  7  and  8  only delimit a chamber compartment on one side, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that these heat exchangers  7  and  8  may also be of a different design, in particular on the side which is remote from the chamber compartment  4 . The heat exchangers  1 ,  7  and  8  are of the kind which are composed of a panel-shaped body  21  provided with perforations  25  and  26 , as well as with fluid lines  22 . The gas stream through the chamber compartments and the perforations in the panel-shaped body  21  are in this case indicated by means of arrows L. Ventilation means  50 , such as fans, in this case ensure that the gas stream is maintained. These ventilation means may as such be provided at various locations, but will usually be provided in the inlet chamber  12  and/or the outlet chamber  13 . 
         [0059]    As stated above, the climate chamber  3  is in particular provided with heat exchangers  1 ,  7  and  8  as described in various further embodiments with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 1, 2, 3 or more rows  6  of stacked crates  2  are placed in each chamber compartment. In particular, this will be 1 or 2 rows of stacks, such as two rows  6  of stacks, as illustrated diagrammatically in the central chamber compartment in  FIG. 5 . Depending on the depth, viewed at right angles to the plane of the drawing from  FIG. 5 , of each chamber compartment  4  and the length, viewed in the direction of double arrow M from  FIG. 6 , each row  6  of stacks of crates may comprise one or more stacks of crates. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8  and  FIG. 3 , if the heat exchangers  1 ,  7  and  8  are provided with drinking troughs  40 , each crate preferably has a height H corresponding to the centre-to-centre distance C between the gassing ducts  28  and drinking troughs  40 . Furthermore, the crate  2  is then provided with drinking passages  54  on one side, the side facing the drinking trough  40 , so that the birds, in particular the chicks, can drink from a trough  40 . These drinking passages  54  may be provided in a vertical side wall of the crate. However, it is particularly advantageous to provide that side of the crate  2  facing the drinking trough with, starting from the bottom, a bottom vertical wall part  51 , a wall part  52  which is directed outwards from the top of the bottom vertical wall part  51 , and a top wall part  53  which is directed vertically from the outer edge of the outwardly directed wall part  52 . The outwardly directed wall part  52  of each crate  2  is in each case situated above a trough  40  and is provided with the drinking passages  54  which continue as far as just into the bottom vertical wall part  51  to increase drinking comfort. These drinking passages  54  are, on the one hand, dimensioned such that the birds can drink from the trough, but, on the other hand, cannot escape from the crate  2  via the drinking passage  54 . The width E of the drinking passages is in this case approximately 22 mm, so that the chicks can stick their head through them, but their body is too large to pass through them. The bottom vertical wall part  51  forms a kind of railing which prevents the chicks from pushing each other as far as above the trough and ensures a correct drinking level. As an indication, for chicks of chickens, the bottom vertical wall part  51  may, in this case, have a height of approximately 50 mm to 55 mm and the top vertical wall part  53  may in this case have a height of approximately 90 mm to 110 mm. 
         [0061]    In order to ensure that the gas stream A can permeate the crate  2 , the crate  2  is provided with ventilation openings on two opposite sides—which are at right angles to the gas stream A—in order to allow the gas stream A to pass. These ventilation passages have a width F, see  FIG. 7 , which is such that the animals, in particular the chicks, cannot escape through them. The width F is preferably such that the animals cannot stick their head out of the crate here. 
         [0062]    In order to be able to feed the animals, such as the abovementioned chicks, the crate  2  is provided with a feeding trough  60 . In order to allow the gas to flow through the crate  2  in a manner which is as unimpeded as possible, this feeding trough  60  is provided along a side of the crate  2  which is at right angles to the side along which the drinking trough  40 , at least the drinking passages  54 , are provided. The feeding trough  60  comprises, in a known manner, a partition  62  which separates the filling opening  61  from the feed opening  63  which is situated at a lower level. 
         [0063]    The bottom of the crates is designed as a grate  56  with a removable baseplate  55  fitted underneath. This baseplate is advantageously made of a material containing cellulose, such as cardboard. The baseplate  55  can then be recycled and be disposed of together with the droppings as a disposable product. More generally, it is advantageous if the baseplate is made from a biodegradable material, such as a biodegradable plastic or biodegradable cardboard. This baseplate  55  is in particular provided at a distance D of 5 mm to 50 mm underneath the grate  56 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , this baseplate  55  can be placed in the crate and removed from the crate by sliding in accordance with the double arrow N. To this end, the crate  2  is provided with two ribs  65  and  66  on the underside, between which there is a slot in which the opposite edges of the baseplate can be accommodated. When stacked, the supports  67  of a crate  2  underneath in each case provide support to the baseplate  55  of a crate  2  above. The underside of the grate is particular designed to be convex towards the top. In order to be able to move this crate  2  safely over a conveyor belt without a baseplate  55  but with chicks  100  or other animals without damaging the legs or toes of the animals, it is advantageous if the crate  2  is provided on the underside with supporting feet  58 , which ensure that there is a minimum distance D of 5 to 15 mm between the underside of the grate  56  and the surface. In order to prevent the grate from sagging, it is provided with reinforcing ribs  59  on the underside. It should be noted that a stack of crates for young animals, such as chicks, described in this paragraph, is advantageous by itself: Stack comprising a plurality of crates, optionally containing animals, such as chicks, each crate having a bottom which is designed as a grate  56  having a removable baseplate  55  fitted underneath for collecting droppings. 
         [0064]    It will also be obvious after the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person which are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and which are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.