I sold some chickens HELP - some died! Best way to package when sold?

[maf2008]

I sold some chickens HELP - some died! Best way to package when sold?.. this is sad but true...

I sold some chickens today and tried to put them in a box for the man to take home.... He bought 20 point of lay and laying hens. Most of my best hens for a fair price....

Problem.. How to get chickens in the box? We "rubberband-ed" the feet put in a box and most of them got out started hopping alll around the run and freaked out the other hens... in 100 plus degree Texas heat and we had to keep catching them over and over again.

So I replaced those that died. (5 had heat stroke and 1 died in the run from all of the stress. These are 18-22 week old hens!)

Tomorrow.... I have another man coming over for 20 leghorns (POL) and I will have to pack these.

Please do not laugh... I need some ideas... What about "banding feet and placing in a plastic grocery sack with the head exposed for air and THEN packing in a box... bet they can't hop then...

What other ideas does anyone els have? Please help!!!

 

[shay20]

Can i ask why did you rubberband them?

 

[shawnkfl]

you need large open cages for them. putting them in a box or plastic bag will be just like an oven.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

You need to tell whoever buys them that they need to bring pet carriers for transport. Then it's their responsibility, and you don't have to replace valuable chickens.

 

[SPRING CREEK FARM]

Love my chickies!! :

You need to tell whoever buys them that they need to bring pet carriers for transport. Then it's their responsibility, and you don't have to replace valuable chickens.

True, I agree 100%. I just sold all my Crele Old English bantam chicks and discussed with the man by phone how he was planning on transporting them. I knew before he came that he had those wooden chick boxes that he was bringing to put them into. For the grown chickens, adequate sized pet carriers or wire cages will do nicely. Anyone serious about buying many chickens should be prepared to transport them the right way to avoid injury and/or stress to the chickens.

 

[key west chick]

Yep, I have always brought my own transport box when I go get chickens.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

oh my gosh! Why????
Catch them at night or in the early evening when they have gone to roost. Put them in a large enough crate with air holes. I use rabbit cages so the customers can see them when they get here and then transfer to the customers carrier. Often customers will drop off carriers the night before and I just get up early and put the girls in. I insist on my customers being here no more than an hour after I cage them and if they are more than 30 min late I let them out and they have to come back that night or the next morning. I can't imagine needing to band the leggs of laying hens.

 

[speckledhen]

Do not rubberband their feet! That will cut into them and cause them to bleed, especially when they pick at their own feet, trying to get those off. The buyer needs to bring a dog crate or other carrier with him.

 

[tackyrama]

At the local livestock auction house they have misc. auction every Wed. Lots of chickens get sold. The sellers generally bring them in some type of wire cage. Doesn't have to be fancy. It is then the buyers responsibility to transport them however he/she chooses. Most go home in gunney sacks or the newer plastic type. Some buyers bring their own wire cages. Mostly these are some type of wooden frame with chicken wire tacked on.

 

[silkiechicken]

Before I sell, I put the chosen ones in a tractor and do not let them range. I also require that buyers come with enough boxes or crates to be able to take them home. Don't band them, tie them, or cram them into cages too tight, as that can cause them to die. Just transport them as you would a cat or dog in a crate or bucket if they are small.