Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[BGMatt]

Does anyone use these?

http://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/transportation-coops

I normally just use dog crates.

Those will result in a LOT of broken feathers too (especially wing or tail feathers that stick through the gaps, bird moves, broken feather). Dog Crates or handmade wood crates work really well. Used to use these when we raised a yearly batch of CornishX for meat and they worked great for transporting those to slaughterhouse.

 

[Wynette]

Those will result in a LOT of broken feathers too (especially wing or tail feathers that stick through the gaps, bird moves, broken feather). Dog Crates or handmade wood crates work really well. Used to use these when we raised a yearly batch of CornishX for meat and they worked great for transporting those to slaughterhouse.

YIKES. Good to know. What I most often see at shows is dog crates, those wooden crates with the sliding doors (though seems they'd be pretty heavy, and I don't know that I'd be comfortable about cleaning them afterwards) and plastic totes.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: It is not too late to save the breeds-- I was amazed to see the outpouring of condolences for BOb from people that don't post on this thread. People who have acquired birds thru BOb's assistance. THen I see the proportion of large fowl to bantams has changed in 2 years at the Boston Expos. A higher percentage of large fowl, plus turkeys, lots of turkeys.

Sometimes it is thru the project birds and the hatchery birds that those of us new to poultry find our way to the Bob's of the poultry world. My hatchery girls will not be replaced with more hatchery birds. BUt as a newbie to breeding chickens, buying birds from a good line and then improving on them is like climbing Mt Everest. Better to find an improved line and hope to maintain them.

I do see others who have taken on the heritage breeds-- there is a growing momentum. I have had 5 people ask me to partner with them on a breed. Each a different breed!! lol

 

[BGMatt]

YIKES. Good to know. What I most often see at shows is dog crates, those wooden crates with the sliding doors (though seems they'd be pretty heavy, and I don't know that I'd be comfortable about cleaning them afterwards) and plastic totes.

Shipping boxes work pretty well too. A guy up here that used to show a lot of mediterranean birds years ago (sadly since passed on) made almost A-frame looking boxes for them, that way especially the males couldn't turn around and mess up their tails. I always thought that was a good way to go for birds with long tails (Leghorn, Sumatra, Minorca, etc, let alone Phoenix and such), boxes long enough for bird and just narrow enough that they can't spin around.

The dog crates are longest lasting and easy to clean and even sanitize if so inclined. Plus if you pick them up at thrift stores and the like they're much cheaper and easier.

 

[Wynette]

Shipping boxes seems a good idea, also, and quite disposable/burnable when they begin to wear out. I do like the dog crates, easy to hose out or powerwash, and collapsible so they don't take up much space when not in use.

 

[Zanna]

Shipping boxes seems a good idea, also, and quite disposable/burnable when they begin to wear out. I do like the dog crates, easy to hose out or powerwash, and collapsible so they don't take up much space when not in use.

Someone at a show told me they use cardboard boxes made for transporting cats/dogs that they order from their vet. They are wax lined so, waterproof, nothing to snag feathers on, easy to wipe down/reuse and lightweight with lots of ventillation holes. They also have nice carrying handles at the top.

 

[Pathfinders]

If you work with someone who makes the wooden crates, you can often specify exactly what dimensions you want. I had some custom made for my Dutch Bantam males, who have long, long main sickles, and for which I wanted crates that were long enough to not smush those, but narrow enough to prevent them from turning around once I put them in. Had a guy make me three sets of them, four holes each. They're wonderful, and weren't that much more expensive than his other crates. Now I just wish I still had Dutch...

 

[Apdeb]

Joe yhf drove his birds from nh to ohio in carboard lowes boxes medium and large sizes brilliant if you ask me!!! I used the dog crates but yes on those 14 and 13 hour rides not the best but you can put the small cage cups with water and food which is a plus!!! After taking those hamburgs and bantam buckeyes back and having them in the car so long i feel like im learning every trip!!! Most likely driving back with a Barnevelder k from knoxville

 

[Wynette]

Someone at a show told me they use cardboard boxes made for transporting cats/dogs that they order from their vet. They are wax lined so, waterproof, nothing to snag feathers on, easy to wipe down/reuse and lightweight with lots of ventillation holes. They also have nice carrying handles at the top.

Interesting! I'll have to ask my vet about these the next time I'm in. Thanks for mentioning, Zanna!

 

[BGMatt]

Oh I just thought of something else that works amazing for transporting! Produce Boxes. If you talk to the store managers sometimes you can get a ton of them free and they work really well for small large fowl, or with cardboard dividers for bantams.