How do I move 100 chickens from Ca. to Florida

[patandchickens]

You might call around to some livestock haulers, like for horses or cattle or exotic animals (that is 3 different types of companies there) -- ask around at feedstore and look on bulletin boards -- to see if any would handle chickens. Biggest issue would probably be having a large enough # of appropriate crates, and ensuring they were adequately fed and watered on the way, which is why I would suggest a livestock hauling co. Probably just have to call around to a bunch of them.

I presume these are valuable personal lines of some breed(s), otherwise it would be vastly cheaper and more efficient to just sell and buy new ones once you get there.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[Lollipop]

Last Sept. I moved 6 chickens and 7 geese to GA from FL. My concerns were the heat of the day and water. I suggest the mover also, especially if you can find one that will drive straight through as that will eliminate the heat from parking in the daytime. If you cut up some apples and put them in each pen/container, that will help hydrate them and give them something to do. If you do move them yourself, the stock trailer has merrit with cages for 10 as suggested. When I moved mine, I carried water with me and filled drinking cups about half full and spritzed them with a spray bottle at each stop. That drinking from a water bottle idea won`t work because of the motion of the vehicle. I didn`t feed anyone on the trip anything except the apples. I`ve shipped hundreds of fowl over the years and I can tell ya that they can go at least 2 days without water or any side affects. However, your trip will be a minimum of 3 days, so water often. Water from home is best as changing water can stress a chicken and traveling doesn`t need any additional stress.

When I was living and raising my gamefowl there in FL, my pens consisted of 4X5 welded wire pens with a pair in each pen(gamefowl don`t play well with others). Your considerations in FL will be shade and water. You`ll be moving in during huricane season so provisions must be considered for housing them in a garage, if possible and/or neccessary. I had no such facility so I ancored my pens (52 of them) and let her blow. The only casualty was a cock that got out as his pen shifted and killed himself fighting through the wire. Hope I`ve given you some food for thought......Pop

 

[espressola]

I would try to anchor the crates or pens 6-12 inches off the ground if I were using a horse trailer. My experience with horse trailers is that the floor can heat up a lot on long trips... this air space should help to keep them cooler... but I do agree that a stock trailer is probably your best bet!
Patty N. ;-)

 

[Crystalchic]

Wow! You guys think of everything. Thanks. They are from top breeders as well as just plain ole feeder store chicks that I cant let go. they are our pets. I have about 30 that will live with me till they die. I don't care how much it cost to safely get them to florida

 

[EweSheep]

Definately stock trailer! Be sure to cover something like snow fencing material that you can tie it on the rails of the trailer. Not the orange kind but the green one that has smaller holes but great for snow barrier. At least your chickens will be cooler that way than burlap or tarp.

It can be done! I've done the traveling with 12 Leghorn chickens across the state and not lost one!

After an hour drive or so, I would stretch for myself and water the chickens in a shallow bowl or bowls so everyone can drink up while you take a break from traveling or eating. They are tough and its nothing new with chickens traveling across the country on the back of those old Ford cars back in the depression times!

 

[cmom]

Just curious!! Where in Florida are you moving to.

 

[Bock_Bock]

i would say rent one of those motor home thingys get insurance and cleaners insyrance on it then put them in their with you and drive to florida that way you can kinda control the temp so it doesnt get to hot or to cold, the smell would prob be the only thing lol, just drive strait threw (this was a joke) but i did like the ideas of a horse trailor or even a box hauler like a U-haul, just dont tell them it is going to be filled with chickens

 

[prariechiken]

I would narrow down my flock to brood stock. If not possible, get some fowl shippers like the PO sanctioned ones and load them up and take them to their new home. I myself would not trust a moving company with my fowl. The birds are pretty hardy and take shipping well. Use your common sense and prepare them for the stress that they will be under.

 

[Crystalchic]

I want to be with in a few hours of Fort Lauderdale. How do I prepare chickens for the move?

 

[prariechiken]

Be sure they are debugged, dewormed, etc... Moving them is going to put them under stress, so you want to limit any other stress factors there are. Have them well fed and watered and provide the slice of apple and/or watermelon rind in their respective containers and move the herd out

Good luck...