Patent ID: 8591297

Claim:
A method for controlled atmosphere stunning of poultry confined in a plurality of cages on a transport vehicle comprising the steps of: (i) placing the poultry confined in the plurality of cages on the transport vehicle such that the cages are stationary; (ii) enclosing the stationary cages on the transport vehicle to isolate the atmosphere surrounding the poultry confined in the stationary cages on the transport vehicle by disposing a moveable enclosure, through which the transport vehicle can pass, around the stationary cages on the transport vehicle to sealably isolate the atmosphere surrounding the poultry; (iii) introducing a stunning gas to the isolated atmosphere surrounding the poultry confined in the stationary cages on the transport vehicle; and (iv) recirculating the stunning gas within the isolated atmosphere surrounding the poultry confined in the stationary cages on the transport vehicle to stun or kill the poultry; (v) exhausting the stunning gas within the isolated atmosphere surrounding the poultry confined in the stationary cages on the transport vehicle after the poultry have been stunned or killed; and (vi) removing the stunned or killed poultry from the stationary cages on the transport vehicle.