Need help with my chickens

[lilmarie84]

When we got our chickens back an April we had every intention of staying where we are but now we are looking at an unforeseen move to one state over for work purposes and I was wanting to know the best way to transport them in the move because I really don't want to give them away after all of the time and effort I have put into taking care of them.

Can anyone please help

 

[lazy gardener]

How long will it take you to make the drive? What are you using for transportation? Do you have a coop available at your new home, or is your coop portable? What will the temp be when you make the drive?

 

[lilmarie84]

Its about a 6 hour drive my coop is portable I can speak to the temp when we leave cuz its still weeks away as for the transportation part all I at the moment is a truck and trailer I don't have anything for them cuz I don't know what to get

 

[lilmarie84]

and they 17 weeks at the moment if that means anything I'm just looking to ways to make any of this if not all of it as stressless as possible on them

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My daughter transported 5 chickens in the back of a trailer set up as a mini-coop from Oregon to Tennessee.

They all made it just fine. The RIR's still laid during the journey. She let them out for foraging a bit each stop (I think they had a portable pen) as it took them a number of days to reach their destination.

You've only got 6 hours, a relatively short distance. Just make sure they are stable for transport, being able to settle nicely on the floor.

Dog crates work well for this type of short distances. If you have, or want to purchase, the kind with the top opening door is really nice for birds (versus the front opener for dog or cat entrance).

It helps to cut up apple slices to place in the crate so that they can have some nutrition and fluids during transit. You should only need to offer feed/water at the beginning before loading and then at the end after unloading. If it is a really hot day, obviously offer some water at a rest stop.

But for the short 6 hour trip, cages/crates will work well. If your portable coop is stable enough, you may be able to place the crates on the floor of the coop for transport, depending upon its size. If they look like they can travel stable in that, as it is smaller (like the mini-trailer) they might travel well in that coop, but if they have too much room to move they can hurt themselves in transit if they startle....so cages or smaller confined areas are best.

LofMc

 

[aart]

Might want to look into Ag regs in target state for taking across state lines.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

There was a thread here recently on this same subject. Would suggest you might want to check the info on that thread as well. Althought you have gotten some really good advice on this thread already. Good luck with your move, hope all works out well.

 

[lilmarie84]

Thank you all for the advice. I have a great dane size dog crate that should be the right size for 8 chickens right?

 

[Chickassan]

That should work fine. If you're not going to make many stops put a piece of watermelon in the crate, that was they get water and entertainment. If you're feeling crafty you can poke holes in the melon and fill with crumbles or mealies. Take a sheet or something to cover your crate in case they start to get cranky or if you need to block sun.

 

[lazy gardener]

As long as they don't get over heated or wind whipped, they should make the trip just fine. The watermelon/crumble idea is genius. It gives them moisture without spilling.