Moving 6 hrs away, how do I transport my chickens?

What is the best way to move 90 7-9 week old chickens 6 hours away? I have a truck, but don't think the bed is the best way to do it. I have a crew cab so I have a backseat to put them in, there is also my wife's vehicle which is like a small minivan. What would be the best way to transport them? Give them water and food along the way? Any ideas would be appreciated!

Assuming you want to do it all in one trip, I would use cardboard boxes with ventilation holes cut in them, dog crates, cages, whatever you have.

Actually, I would consider the bed of the truck, particularly if they are in boxes. Amazing how little wind actually gets in the bed, ever notice how that candy wrapper never blows out? Back seats also work well, but put down a tarp to protect the interior!

Commercial poultry is hauled in crates on tractor trailers, biggest concern is over heating.

Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation!

Stopping halfway through the trip and offering bowls of water won't hurt, for 6 hours, they should be fine on food. They actually should be OK for water, too, as long as they are given water as soon as they arrive at the new location.

When I worked in commercial poultry, 6 hours moving was no big deal for pullets, it's when they stopped and had no air flow the trouble began when it was hot. If we couldn't unload them immediately, we actually sent the trucks on drives just to provide ventilation and airflow.

Awesome, thanks. I think I will keep them in the back seat in cardboard and make sure the truck stays on and the vents are blowing. I'm weaning them off the lights now so they should be fine for 6 hours even with a little air flow, especially since I will probably keep around 20-30 in each box. I will give them food and stop halfway for water.

The biggest issue is making sure they don't get hot and have fresh air. At 7 weeks+, they should be fine getting cooler, at least in to the 50's. No need for a heat lamp at that age. Make sure they get plenty of air. They will exhale a lot of moisture, that's why you need ventilation. And don't overcrowd them.

If you can get any tomato boxes from the grocery store, they are sturdy and have lots of ventilation holes. Throw some wood chips or straw in for cushioning. Cardboard is slippery and you don't want leg injuries.

Yeah, they're 5 and 7 weeks right now and will be light free by the time we move in a couple weeks. How many sq ft per bird should I give them on the ride there? They have about 1.25 right now in their brooder but I was figuring that with them only being in there for 6 hours I could go with half a square foot per bird just for the trip. Thanks for the help,

They should have been off heat at about 3-4 weeks this time of year.
Keeping them cool and with lots of ventilation will be key.....it's gonna stink bad if you have them in the back seat of the truck.
Actually minivan might be better with the rear window vents open and front windows cracked a bit with the AC on.

How about wire dog crates? You can fit 2 of the 36" crates side by side in the back of most minivans. Cut some cardboard to fit 3/4 of the way up the sides and zip tie it in place. Leave the tops uncovered. Put a water nipple in the cap of a 1 liter bottle and hang it in the corner or just stick a cucumber in with them for the ride.

My pullets were in this kind of a setup in my garage for two months this winter and did fine. The cool thing is that when you get to your destination you don't have to worry about immediately unpacking chicks from boxes. They can stay in the crates for a while if they had to until you get settled in.

If you do the move at night, I would think six hours straight through is no big deal.

I highly suggest the bed of the pickup in tomato boxes at night. This will provide ventilation, cooler temperatures and avoid your vehicle smelling like chickens for the next six months. And they are generally free if you ask at grocery stores, start collecting now. You should have no problem putting at least 4 in each box. Probably be able to fit 6-8 without overcrowding.

Heat is by far the biggest concern. They have high body temperatures and will generate a lot of heat on their own, hence ventilation is key. They will survive 6 hours without food and water if they don't get hot, just provide plenty of water at the end.

I had someone take two twelve week old at least that far in May with no issues. The box was a small tomato box. It was about as tall as they were. No food, no water, no problems.

I transport chickens frequently. I have a collection of rabbit cages and plastic dog crates. Both work well. I also build my own cages for various purposes. 5 week old don't need a lot of height. I've had them in 10" high cages I generally use for quail.

Most water nipples will leak when subject to vibration, btw. The spring loaded type might not.

aart - It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, the chickens are inside I have nosey neighbors and stupid laws to worry about until I move so until then they stay inside. I keep my house around 68 degrees and since I started the chicks out at 95 and moved down by 5 degrees each week... they are just now reaching the 65 degree week which is why they are off the light now (the older ones that are 7/8 weeks) the younger chicks (5/6 weeks) get their light turned on for a few hours each day and at night. Thanks for the ideas on transporting them!

Talkalittle - thaniks for the ideas. I am pretty sure I am going the cardboard box route, but if I leave the tops uncovered I would have chickens flying everywhere. I guess I could cover them with chicken wire fencing... I don't have any nipple waterers so I think I will just stop halfway and give them some water. 3 hours without water won't hurt them.

Chiques chick - thanks! Tomato boxes sounds good, or I have some cardboard boxes that are for filing paper- about 12x12x10. I'm thinking I could fit 4 or 5 in there and open up the sides really well for ventilation - I will keep the truck around 65 degrees and have the fan blowing real well so I will probably keep them on the inside. I will put down a tarp to keep any dust/etc from getting into the carpet and interior. Thanks again for the ideas! It's good to know they can go 6 hours without food/water. I will still stop halfway and give them a drink still and probably keep some food in the box for them on the way.

PrudentPrepper said:

aart - It doesn't matter what time of the year it is, the chickens are inside I have nosey neighbors and stupid laws to worry about until I move so until then they stay inside. I keep my house around 68 degrees and since I started the chicks out at 95 and moved down by 5 degrees each week... they are just now reaching the 65 degree week which is why they are off the light now (the older ones that are 7/8 weeks) the younger chicks (5/6 weeks) get their light turned on for a few hours each day and at night. Thanks for the ideas on transporting them!

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Ah, you followed 'that rule'.
Mine were inside too but I kept them much cooler than the 'rule' states, healthier for them and feathers grow out much faster.
Still had to keep them inside longer than planned for other reasons....oh the dust!