A poultry box or crate is the smallest logistical unit to transport poultry. The most common varieties are the cardboard chick boxes and the plastic crates.  

Since they are single-use, cardboard chick boxes are more hygienic. Along with being lightweight it makes them ideal for air freight, for example. However they come with some disadvantages as well. They require to be assembled and they have a lower stacking level due to their limited strength. This makes them, together with their disposability, more costly in the long run.  

Plastic poultry crates on the other hand, are stronger and reusable. Their strength allows them to have higher stacking levels which results in a higher capacity. With plastic crates you can transport 9,000 – 17,000 chicks per meter of truck length, whereas cardboard boxes can only carry 5,000 – 9,000 chicks per meter. Plastic crates are more cost-efficient and have a lower impact on the environment because they can be reused.