Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version. If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options. EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL AND STACKING CONFIGURATION OF CONTAINERS FOR TRANSPORTING CHICKS IN THEIR MICROENVIRONMENTPublished by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org Citation: Transactions of the ASAE. 40(3): 777-782. (doi: 10.13031/2013.21309) @1997Authors: A. Tanaka, H. Xin Keywords: Air transportation, Air exchange, Breeder chicks, Natural ventilation, Stress, Mortality
Breeder (layer) chicks in transit are vulnerable to oxygen shortages that stem from the lack of mechanical
ventilation in holding areas such as warehouse and cargo compartments of aircraft. Such vulnerable periods tend to
occur around departure time of an aircraft when the cargo door is closed but the compartment has not been pressurized,
and vice versa upon landing. To maintain the well-being of the chicks, sufficient air exchange through the containers is
essential during these periods. This study examined the air flow rates and internal thermal conditions of a commercial
chick container as influenced by its structural and stacking configurations. Specifically, a 22 factorial arrangement of
container structures was examined that consisted of a regular cardboard box (62 47 15 cm) and a box modified by
adding extra vent holes (128 vs 92) on the side walls; each type of box was covered with either the regular cardboard lid
or a modified plastic poultry grid lid. The effects on air flow rate of vertical distances (VD) from 2.5 cm (currently used)
to 17.8 cm between the boxes were evaluated with one stack of four containers. The effects on air flow rate of horizontal
distances (HD) from 5.1 to 15.2 cm between the stacks were evaluated with four stacks of six containers each. NI/CR
electrical heating wires evenly located above the excelsior bedding were used to simulate sensible heat production rate
(21 W at 30C) of 88 unfed day-old chicks that are normally held per container.
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