how to move the chooks?

[kagedgoddess]

ok So FINALLY we are closing on our house next week (YAY!!!!!!!) So, its been crazy cold and all the chicken poo is frozen in the coop, no elec there, and i have to clean the coop and transport the chickens. HELP!!!!

i plan on putting them in the rotti's dog crate and moving them to the new run, but i cant figure out how to get them IN the dog crate. the Roo is a RIR and Very mean. he is NOT going to be ok with me grabbing him. and the hens, well they like me when i have food, i MAY be able to bribe them in. i thought about just grabbing them all at night, But then i realized that ... lol, i cannot get them, the roost is higher than the door. so... oh and i could maybe send in a kid to grab the chickens off the roost, But i am afraid he will hurt one, he is only 5, dd is bigger and heavier than me, dh is too and i am 8 mos preggers, so Not really all that bendy, agile or fast. any suggestions? i also thought about putting the dog crate in front of the pop door so they rush in all on their own with out realizing it first thing in the morning. ha! not sure that would work.

anyone do this before, or have ideas to try? thanks!

 

[gkeesling]

I bought this metal pole with a hook on the end of it from one of the poultry supply places. It hooks the chicken's leg and then you can grab it. I use my pole to catch them and then put them in the cage.

 

[scooter147]

remove the roost, they will settle in for the night on the floor. Easy pickins.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Yeah, I agree--catching them at night is the easiest solution. It's easy to catch sleeping birds! They still might make a ruckus and struggle, but less of a ruckus than if you try to catch them in the day.

 

[kagedgoddess]

Quote:
ah... dint think of that, i like it, thanks!

 

[farmin'chick]

If you have time, put the crate in the coop for a few days -- put their food and water in the coop and they'll go in. You go out and put their food in one morning, they all run in, and VOILA! a crate full of birds -- just close the door.

 

[gkeesling]

farmin'chick :

If you have time, put the crate in the coop for a few days -- put their food and water in the coop and they'll go in. You go out and put their food in one morning, they all run in, and VOILA! a crate full of birds -- just close the door.

I loaded steers in my stock trailer that way before. Loaded them right out in the middle of the field. I suppose it could work with chickens as well. both chickens and steers are pretty dumb animals. I parked the trailer in the middle of my field, put their feed in the trailer for a couple days, the third day I put the feed in, they walked on, I shut the door, and took them to the processor to make hamburger and steaks out of them.​