Moving Chickens

[fitzilian]

I've been reading everyone's posts for a while but now i'm officially on the waiting list for some rescue girls i thought i'd better find out some things...


Firstly, what do you move your chickens with? I've seen a poultry crate online for £30 + pp and wondered if a metal dog crate would be any good?

[MaureenHall]

A metal dog crate would be fine I think, as would sturdy cardboard boxes (big enough for at least 2 chickens) with air holes in the sides. Chickens aren't transported on their own, I think this is to reduce the stress. I use the collapsible crates (4 for a tenner or thereabouts) and 3 rescue chooks will fit into each quite comfortably. I also line the bottom of the carrier with shredded paper or newspaper to soak up any poo etc. They're not in it for long, I make sure I don't need to stop on the way home from the rescue centre so they're not in the car boot too long. In the last rescue, I had 2 in one of the collapsible crates, and 2 in a cardboard box, 1 of the chooks in the box actually laid an egg on the way home!! how good is that

[MaureenHall]

Forgot to mention that I tie a strong cardboard "lid" to the crates to prevent any escapes

[Hilary B]

In the days when a few types of feed could sometimes be purchased in strong paper sacks (you can still sometimes get potatoes in such sacks) I once transported 2 hens a very short distance (10 mins by car) in one of those with a biggish hole for air, on the floor of the car (passenger footwell). I wouldn't recommend it for any great distance, but they seemed happy enough in the dark of the bag.

[vicky]

We use a wire cat basket (3 chickens), might be worth asking around to borrow one? We were told ex batts travel best in quite cramped conditions, with a wire floor they can grab onto.
At the rescue we went to there was all manner of chicken transport to be seen!
How many do you think you're getting?

[Twinkle]

I move mine around in a large cardboard box with a few airholes lined with straw...

[di]

Our 1st lot we used sturdy cardboard boxes & then the next 2 were treated to an old picnic hamper!Think as long as it's fairly dark/restricts too much movement & has airholes then whatever you have to hand.~we got our boxes from the local co-op.

[fitzilian]

we're hoping to get 5...

so a wire crate with a wire base would be best? maybe a blanket on the floor of the car for loose straw? hubby wont be happy with any mess in the car as it'll be brand new when we get the ladies...

[MaureenHall]

I'd put a tarpaulin (new little ones from B&Q a couple of quid) on the floor, just in case of "moisture" seeping through. Chicken poo does stink when it's warm and dry :eek

[fitzilian]

nice!

found a crate on ebay for £15 that i can collect... Will prob go for that, if hubby will buy for my birthday!

Will be driving the chickens to my mum's when we holiday so would be handy to have something permanently there!