Hurricane Bug Out: What do do with chickens?

[ChickenTater]

My family and I are in the possible path of Irma. We already have a place we're going to, and are taking our dogs and cat. However, there is just no possible way for us to take my 5 hens. We've been trying to figure out the best way to keep them safe leaving them behind, but we're just not sure. We've never had to bug out with chickens before. I'm very concerned about them, because this is my first flock that I hand raised 5 months ago.

Our coop is wood and probably won't make it through the storm, but we thought that maybe if would be okay if we put it up against a brick building, covered with a tarp (and other securities to keep it from being picked up by the wind). We also have a pantry that we can clean out to keep the hens in, but the building that the pantry is in is not made of brick, so it wouldn't be as sturdy. If the building is somehow compromised, that could also be bad for the chickens.

They are saying that Irma will hit with 120 mhp winds. In our situation, would it be better to leave the hens outside, or bring them inside?

 

[PolarBerry]

Any local farmers or fairgrounds offering housing for livestock? I know here we're dealing with wildfire evacuations and the fairgrounds opened their animal areas to displaced livestock. I don't know if leaving them behind would be in their best interest, if their food or water gets knocked over or you can't get back to them for a while then they probably won't survive anyway. Taking with you would be the best course of action.

 

[Ms Kim]

Whoa Chicken Tater, sounds like you have a lot to deal with right now. If it was just a storm and not a hurricane with possible 120 mph winds then leaving them behind in the yard might be OK. With winds like that I don't know if they could survive unless they are in shelter. Make the best choice you can and may peace be with you and your household as you pack and head out. These chickens have youthful bodies to their advantage. Have you checked to see if you know anyone in your community that is staying behind and might be able to watch over your flock?
Good Luck

 

[ChickenTater]

As far as I know, we don't have any fairgrounds or local farmers providing safe housing for livestock. Our plan is to come back 2 or 3 days after evacuating, because at this point where we live there will be little rain/water, mostly just wind. We're now talking about reinforcing the coop to keep it from blowing away. But I'm more worried about their food and water. They have a place inside the coop where they can keep dry and out of the elements, where their nesting boxes are, up off the ground. I've put their food there before when we had a lot of rain (I live in Louisiana, so swampy climates are not uncommon) and the only real problem with that was that they pooped in the feeder a little bit. I have a waterer that holds 5 gallons of water, but obviously won't fit in the same place. I have a smaller 1 gallon waterer that I can put in the same place. I would definitely keep the 5 gallon waterer in the coop, but my concern is that they will run out of food and water in the "safe place" before we come back.

We're bugging out to a church, and as of right now, the only way we would be able to bring them to said church is if we put my hens in a closed trailer (which is currently full of supplies for Harvey victims). I'm sure we could make it into a coop for them easily, but that also means they would be in total darkness because the trailer has no windows. If we decide to go that route, I'd also need a lot of advice. Would I need to keep a light in the trailer? What about bedding? Do I need to put something down on the bottom, or can I leave them to walk/poop on the trailer floor? Does anyone have experience moving chickens in a trailer???

 

[Mylied]

Can't you put them in a bathroom in your house? There's only 5 of them and trust me, the mess they leave can be cleaned up. Just put down a bunch of old blankets or towels, leave lots of food and water around. Then they won't get killed outside.

If you put them in a trailer, I'd put them in cages in it. You can put bedding down (wood chips or hay). You can put battery powered lights in it. I wouldn't leave them in the pitch black for days. That's not healthy.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Sorry I don't have any good advice for you as I have not had that experience. You might try calling your local humane organization and see if they can offer any advice.

Note: there area a bunch of other threads on BYC that you might get information from Search Hurricane IRMA.

 

[theoldchick]

This is a difficult question to answer. If you leave them behind they will most likely die. If I were in this situation, I would buy several large plastic dog carriers and take them with me just like I would my dog or cat. Buy a cheap tent to house them in once you have settled in your temp. home. I know people in Florida who evacuated 4 x in one year due to hurricanes. These were rugged country folk who gathered their critters and hauled ass to dry ground-usually a primitive campground in North Ga. They had a tent for people, tents for their chickens, and temporary dog kennels for their dogs. By the time the fourth hurricane passed through they had the routine well organised. They now have their gear ready-tents, food, vehicles poised for departure. Country folk now how to survive and they take their animals with them. Come hell or high water.

 

[ChickenTater]

I've gone and read the other articles for evacuating, thanks for pointing that out! I'm now trying to figure out how to evacuate them in a dog crate my pastors family has and a dog play pen we used when they were chicks.

Can anyone tell me what items I would need to bring with me for my chickens, aside from food and water? Should I bring any sort of medication or antibiotics for them? Other important items?

 

[PolarBerry]

Anything you may need. Wound treatment, preventative coccidia treatments, etc. Same as how you'd bring your own medical supplies as a just in case you can't get back as soon as hoped. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

 

[theuglychick]

I would be hesitant to put them into a trailer, as they roll quite easily in wind. How about a garage?

If you can't find somewhere to put them and have to leave them at your home, I'll post this from another Irma thread in hopes that you can use something from it:

Make sure they have a place that's high and dry out of the wind and rain. You may want to add some flat boards higher in the coop if you are expecting flooding so they can get up out of the water and walk around.

Leave plenty of food available in an areas that's least likely to spoil and provide PLENTY of clean water. I'd start putting it out in those places now so they will get used to looking for them.

Have emergency supplies and meds ready to go for when you return. ( I keep corid, tylan, and bird sulfa on hand).

*Make sure your coop is well-anchored, too. *

We are hoping for Irma to veer east and head out in the Atlantic, y'all, yalls families, pets, and the communities are in our thoughts and prayers!