Beckechick
In the Brooder
- Aug 24, 2020
- 9
- 36
- 34
I would love to hear people’s experiences in evacuating with their chickens from the fires burning now in CA, and from other disasters. I apologize for my computer ignorance: maybe there’s a thread already and I can’t find it?
I do want to tell our story, so here goes:
We were almost packed. We had just found out we had a place we could stay with our 5 chickens and the cat. (We are very lucky. I am so thankful.) Then a sheriff drove up to the house and said, “leave now”. I had read on line, I think BYC, that I could cut a hole in the corner of a pillow slip and then wrap the slip around the chicken with tape. We only had two pet carriers and the cat was in one. So I was out back stuffing pillow cases, had to get some gelp with the tape. I never dreamed I’d have to evacuate chickens. Now I know if you have animals you have to have an evacuation plan and a destination for each one. There they were, three pitiful little chicken packages. I’m going to stop now and see if/how this thread-post-thing works. I’ve never done it.
I do want to tell our story, so here goes:
We were almost packed. We had just found out we had a place we could stay with our 5 chickens and the cat. (We are very lucky. I am so thankful.) Then a sheriff drove up to the house and said, “leave now”. I had read on line, I think BYC, that I could cut a hole in the corner of a pillow slip and then wrap the slip around the chicken with tape. We only had two pet carriers and the cat was in one. So I was out back stuffing pillow cases, had to get some gelp with the tape. I never dreamed I’d have to evacuate chickens. Now I know if you have animals you have to have an evacuation plan and a destination for each one. There they were, three pitiful little chicken packages. I’m going to stop now and see if/how this thread-post-thing works. I’ve never done it.
And we couldn't abandon them either! But wow, it was apocalyptic proportions as the fire roared right past us. Ash and embers fell from the sky like snow, air so acrid it burned the lungs, visibility of 1/2 to 1/4 mile, air tankers flew so low dropping slurry, I swore I could see the pilots in their seats they came so close. (I think they were the only ones that knew we were here.) Flames shooting 100 feet into the air as pine trees went up like exploding bombs, it was absolutely terrifying! We didn't sleep for 3 days until the fire was past us. It's a wonder none of the livestock died from smoke inhalation, although some of them did become sick, thankfully recovering later. Never again will we NOT evacuate!! 
