Transporting chooks...?

[mattw]

Hi,

I don't have any birds yet but am going to Clitheroe next week on the look out. I have just thought 'What will I put them in to get them into the car then out of the car and onto the allotment?' Can I use a cardboard box with holes in it? Will I be provided with such a thing if I buy some birds? Should I invest in a transport cage?

What do you guys use when moving chooks about?

Matt.

[nick the grief]

I use a shopping trolley as they are usually dead

I guess a cardboard box or boxes would be OK, or if you can get them the pet carries that folks take rabbits to the vet in.

[annie trip]

yes sturdy cardboard box as they will root about a bit , size depends on how many you want,be carefull at Clitheroe get some ideas in your head first of what you want, pair, trio etc and age whether you wqant point of lay. Get a few tips on what to look for as very busy and you can get carried away you dont want to buy someone elses old hens.

[CountryFayre]

Cat carrying baskets make good poultry carriers. If you use a cardboard box put the holes in before you put the birds in! Tape across ways as well as length ways. Just stops the bottom giving out quite so easily. A poultry crate is a worth while investment if you are going to move a lot of birds around but at approx £35 using it once every couple of years wouldn't really justify.

[mattw]

Thanks everyone for your replies,

The general consensus on this and other forums is to use cardboard boxes.

NTG,

LOL, to date I've used the same as you but hopefully these chooks will be alive and scratching when I unload after this particular shopping trip

Annie,

I do usually 'cock up' (pun intended - sorry) initially when branching out into new pastures and invariably get the wrong and woefully inappropriate things so I'll probably fancy buying the poultry equivalent of The Golden Girls but hopefully I'll reign myself in a bit!

I'm looking for a trio as I've promised my wife and two boys that they can name one each. Of course once I get a bit of experience with poultry keeping the next lot will I buy will all be named Chicken Dinner

CountryFayre,

Thanks for your tape tip.LOL - I can picture me now carrying the box down to the allotment when the botton goes and my new flock leg it into the distance

Thanks all,

Matt.

[CountryFayre]

Matt,

If you are keeping your birds on the allotment, are you allowed to keep a cockerel? A trio will include such. Some abbreviations that you may find useful:
TRIO - 2 hens 1 cockerel
QUARTET - 3 hens, 1 cockerel
PULLETS - young hens
END OF LAY - old birds
HYBRID - a mixture of pure breeds crossed together, they will not breed true.

[mattw]

AHhhhh so a trio includes a cock! I was thinking 3 ladies. Thanks for the info CountryFayre

Matt.

[yoanbob]

most breeders will give you a cardboard poultry box when you buy, we use a couple of cat carriers for transporting them to their holiday homes. if your getting point of lay pullets look for bright eyes, and red upstanding combs, and best of luck.

[annie trip]

Not sure clitheroe auction that sophisticated yoanbob!!! And think you are more likely to buy someones old knackered ones. My uncle has a toy stall opposite the chickens and has sold many of his old crocks thro there and got good money so be carefull, if youve not been before it is an eye opener!!!

[yoanbob]

ooh err sounds dreadfull. good luck matt

[CountryFayre]

At poultry and livestock auctions you are normally expected to take your own transport cages. Is clitheroe a general market. You may be well advised to take someone with experience (although this is no guarantee) or attend a specalist poultry auction which tend to be held seperatly to the general markets. If you are goingto buy from a general market, look for the birds where the sellers have put a note on the cage with their name and any other details. The more info given, the more genuine they tend to be(in theory)

[rustylady]

You'd be surprised what you can carry around in a cardboard box!

Birds of all sorts tend to go fairly quiet when confined in the dark. My eldest daughter is an animal freak, and when she comes to visit I never know what to expect. Her guinea pigs are quite used to travelling in a rucksack, and the conure (small parrot) often comes to see me for the weekend in a small cardboard box (it's OK, I have a spare cage here for him to spend his weekends in, he just travels in the box) - bit like having the grandchildren to stay)

Good luck with the chooks, I'd love to have some, but I'm not sure what the neighbours and landlord would say. Still, I have to put up with all the neighbourhood cats using my garden as a loo!!! I love animals, have had dogs and cats, but mine always had their own toilet places and I cleared up after them. Don't people use litter trays for their cats any more?

Sorry for the rant, but I've spent the day clearing the borders and it's horrible when you are weeding and end up picking up cat poo

[mattw]

LOL no worries rusty, I've had to shift a load of cat poo off the garlic bed on the plot..

I'm going to Clitheroe on Wednesday maybe just for the experience - we'll see

Matt.

[CountryFayre]

well, do let us know what you come back with, 'cos you will come back with something I am sure!!!

[yoanbob]

just dont fall in love with some poor old girl only fit for the pot. you'll end up spending a fortune on vet bills and getting no eggs in return.