HAZLETON - The financial stability of Iowa's poultry hatcheries improved Tuesday as Northwest Airlines announced it will ease temperature restrictions when it comes to shipping baby chicks.

Hatchery owners squawked to Sen. Charles Grassley claiming airlines weren't shipping chicks, or doing it in a timely manner, due to a misinterpretation of the Animal Welfare Act. Since shipping birds via air is an important part of doing business, owners feared for their livelihoods.

Airlines were refusing to ship day-old chicks if the temperature on the airport tarmac was hotter than 85 degrees - the same requirement for dogs and cats - even though poultry is exempt from the AWA. For the first week of life, chicks are kept in temperatures between 95 to 100 degrees to survive.

Grassley asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this month to clarify the law for airlines and the U.S. Postal Service for both the welfare of young birds and hatcheries.

"I really appreciate Northwest Airlines stepping up to the plate and taking action for hatcheries in Iowa and other states. The way it is now, a one-size-fits all reliance on the Animal Welfare Act has, in fact, jeopardized the welfare of live chicks," Grassley said.

Northwest officials said they were just being proactive. After being made aware of proper animal husbandry practices concerning chicks and the potential hardship on hatcheries by Grassley, along with a story in the Courier, spokesman Thomas Becher said the change was needed.

The Minneapolis-based airline, along with its subsidiary airlines such as Mesaba, which flies out of Waterloo, will increase its maximum temperature to 95 degrees for day-old chicks. Northwest ships most of the chicks in the upper Midwest, officials said.

"This is one case the (news) article got us thinking," said Northwest spokesman Thomas Becher. "After doing some research, we felt given chicks need high temperatures to stay healthy. It would be safe (to raise the standard)."

Hatchery owners are ecstatic.

Elaine DeGraw, owner of Sun Ray Chicks in Hazleton, was worried about the long-term success of her small business. As agriculture has evolved, fewer and fewer local farms have flocks of laying hens or broilers, making nationwide sales a must.

The best, safest and most economical way to transport baby chicks long distances is by air.

Since a good number of the 3,000 to 4,000 chicks DeGraw ships a week eventually make it on Northwest planes, which contracts with the U.S. Postal Service, she's more confident in the future.

"It really does ease some worries," DeGraw said. "It's good everyone (hatchery owners) banded together and put some pressure on. Eventually they (Northwest) had to give in."

Grassley officials said they will continue to push the USDA to clarify the law to insure other airlines follow suit. The USDA has reportedly told Grassley they will have an opinion in two or three weeks in favor of hatcheries.