A method for unloading live poultry onto a horizontal receiving surface from a multi-level transportation container having an access side with an opening at each level and a door for closing each opening. The method includes receiving the transportation container within a support cradle that is rotatably supported on one or more pivot mounts, with the access side of the transportation container in a substantially vertical orientation. The method further includes rotating the support cradle and the transportation container together through an angle of about 90 degrees until the access side of the transportation container is in a substantially horizontal orientation above the horizontal receiving surface while maintaining the doors is a closed position, and upon reaching the substantially horizontal orientation, activating a door opening mechanism to open the doors for each level of the transportation container to deposit the live poultry contained therein onto the horizontal receiving surface.
