Logistics of getting to freezer camp

[2pinkmom]

I've got a newbie question I'm hoping someone can answer for me. My 11 meats are headed to freezer camp tomorrow. (I'm almost afraid to type it for fear of mincing myself after 10 weeks!). I'd hoped to process them myself, but ended up having surgery a couple weeks ago and I'm still not 100%. Fortunately, a couple of the local farm families process every couple weeks and are doing my birds for a fee. We only have to go a mile down the road, and are supposed to arrive around 9 am.

I'll be putting the chickens into pet carriers for the ride. Should I pack them up tonight, or am I risking stressing them out and giving them heart attacks if I do that? They're in a triangular-shaped chicken tractor, and it is too small for me to climb into. For that reason, i thought it would be easiest to grab them while they're roosting tonight. What do most people do?

 

[ChickenToes]

I would withhold feed tonight and tomorrow morning to clean them out, and then pack them up tomorrow morning. If they stay in the crates too long they'll start pecking at each other.

 

[ChickyLaura]

I have read that people do pack them up the night before because it's easier. I don't know because I haven't done "the deed", yet. Good luck!

 

[Dogfish]

Stop feed right now. Pull it out. In the morning put them in your pet carriers. Rubbermaid totes also work well.

Let the birds age 2 days, and have one for dinner Sunday!