Planning on moving (eventually) - how do I manage the hens?

[fargosmom]

Not sure if this is the right area of the forum but here goes -
We plan on moving sometime in the next year, out of state, and we'd really like to bring our 4 hens with us but I'm not sure how practical that is. We may wind up renting for a while wherever we end up, but we'll have to have pet-friendly digs regardless because we also have two big dogs, so I hope the hens would be welcome too. The bigger issue is how to transport them on a 8+ hour trip (along with the rest of the household junk etc), and what's the easiest way to house them when we get there, until we can build them a proper mansion?
If anyone else has accomplished this kind of move I'd love to hear stories, good or bad, about how it went, what you'd do differently, or if it went well, give me a step-by-step of key elements. Like I said, this won't happen for a while but I'd like to have the angles figured out as much as possible ahead of time.
Thanks!!!

 

[Prospector]

How big are your dogs, and do you have crates for them? Could the chickens do the trip in the dog crates?

 

[fargosmom]

They're two greyhounds, and they usually ride in the back of my station wagon. I could get a crate or two for the hens - will they travel ok in those? How do I manage the poo - or do they just get to wallow in it till we get to the destination? Maybe I'm worrying over nothing but these are the kind of details I'd like to have worked out ahead of time. I imagine we'll be renting a uhaul truck for all our house and yard/garage stuff, and perhaps trailering one of the cars . . .

 

[calista]

Whenever we transported chickens for sale to their new owners, we used old birdcages where the poop could fall through to the pullout floor. And then we covered each cage with burlap sacks to darken the inside and make the birds believe it was time to go to sleep again.

Kept them calm, no muss, no fuss. I would imagine you could use this approach successfully on a day-long drive and just lift the burlap to offer water once if it's hot. Otherwise, they should be okay until you get to your destination. Oh, and having the burlap sacks or some other darkening cover on the cages keeps your dogs from knowing what's in there!

Or you could put the cages into one of the trailered cars separate from your greyhounds.

 

[fargosmom]

Thanks so much - that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I'll have to keep an eye out for old bird cages at garage sales now.
Don't they need food too - or are they ok for a day with just water at gas stops?

 

[Tala]

Quote:
When I have travelled mine in dog crates they are usually a little stressed (not bad though, they still lay eggs sometimes in the crates! lol) so they are not really interested in eating. Plus the water would make a big mess. If you cover the crates to keep it darker they will be kinda dozey anyway and not eat when they are snoozing.

 

[clothdiaperingmom]

A wire rabbit cage may work as well. Poop can fall through to pull out floor.

 

[calista]

Quote:
Yes, I meant you can OFFER them a bowl of water at your rest stops and then REMOVE it if they aren't interested. If they've been fed and watered well the night before you leave, they'll be fine for the day you're traveling.

Definitely check out thrift stores and garage sales for old, beat-up birdcages which can usually be had for a SONG.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

 

[fargosmom]

Quote:

Good one! I like the idea of the rabbit cage too. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. And thanks! I hope the ideas keep coming. . . .