How do I travel with chickens...what do I put them in????

[Kathryn4629]

Ok, after much searching on BYC I can't seem to find an answer to my problem.

I am going to be traveling about 2.5 hours from home and am going to be taking my 3 hens with me. We will be staying down there for about a month and my wonderful brother has built a nice little chicken tractor for the girls to stay in (I will be helping my Mom out at her house) while I am there. Here is the problem, I have a truck and need to put the chickens in the bed of it on the way down. I know I need something that they will not have any drafts on them.

I need some ideas on what to put them in, and or build something to put them in. How big should it be? Should I travel at night or during the day? ANY ideas are VERY welcome!!!

Thank you sooo much!

 

[Camelot Farms]

I would get / borrow a large dog kennel. Then just put the 'door' to the inside of the truck to minimize draft.

Generally those kennels are white so they wont attract alot of sun. So, I would be fine with traveling during the day just make sure that they have plenty of hydrating snacks like tomatoes and cukes and melon.

Safe travels!

 

[Teach97]

yp...i use pet taxi things

 

[mdbokc]

Never done it but a dog cage or cat carriers sounds about right. Cover with a tarp; leave a little opening for air.

 

[DIMBY]

yes, I have two large dog crates (always scouring yard sales, looking for more) and make sure you have something down on the bottom so that they aren't 'skidding' about - you don't want them to injure their little legs - an old car floor matt should work fine.

 

[Kathryn4629]

Great ideas! I have thought of the dog crate idea, but it seems like there would be to much wind in the "girls" while going 60mph in the back of a truck?

 

[EweSheep]

Or those cardboard pet carriers you find at the pet store. Find the biggest size and one box for each bird and give some apples or grapes in the box with them or in front of their heads. Have wood shavings on the bottom of box so they can be comfortable.

Just secure the boxes down and make sure it is not a HOT day when you travel. The darkness of the box will make them sleep on the way.

Happy traveling!

 

[Kathryn4629]

Love the box pet carrier idea, I think I actually have a large box around here that would fit them all. If I put a old car mat in the bottom (the rubber kind) with some pine shavings on top, would this keep them from sliding around?

 

[lilblessings5]

We just went to a small animal auction and I was really surprised at all the different types of containers they had birds in.

Cardboard boxes w/ chicken wire over the top (attached with zip ties)
Laundry baskets again w/chicken wire over the top.

1 person cut cardboard for the bottom in a circle and wrapped chicken wire around it for the sides and bottom- put another piece on top - it was the perfect size.

Each container had Straw on the bottom.

The containers went home with the buyers, so sellers tried to be creative and cost effective w/their container choices.

 

[Kathryn4629]

Quote:
Very creative ideas, but I bet they didn't have them in the back of the truck for 3 hours, or they would have been selling some very wind whipped birds