question about moving out of state and your flock

[barnyard betty]

I wasn't sure where to post this question so if it's in the wrong place...my apologies

Has anyone any advice or experience in taking your chickens and ducks with you when you move...as into another state? We are talking at least a 15-20 hour drive. I am wondering if it is advised or not and if anyone has done it...how you did it and how it turned out. We may be moving to a new state next spring and very much want to bring my flock with me. Would hate to have to sell my feathery kids

I have about 30 chickens and ducks so it's no small undertaking, but I'm willing to do what it takes if it's do-able.

Any advice or experience would be helpful. Like what is the best way to transport them? Any tips or tricks to keep them unstressed.

 

[Fred's Hens]

People take breeding stock that far all the time. Other folks show birds and transport them long distances.

First, give some thought to taking only the top birds, perhaps, to lighten the load. Then, you need some good transport crates. You'll need to be able to make them comfortable in those crates and be able to feed them, but importantly water them along the way.

We transport birds back and forth, a couple times a year and the birds spend about 24 hours, in total, in the travel boxes and they've never minded one bit. They mostly lay down in the deep straw and enjoy the ride.

 

[cary 1973]

i would take them with you I may self have not gone through this but what i would do is crate them and if possible during the durationg of the ride keep it dark and cool maybe play some classical music

 

[barnyard betty]

Hmmm you're right, people do transport poultry all the time don't they? I guess it just seemed overwhelming dealing with the thought of that and the whole move itself including my 2 dogs and 3 cats....I have moved with dogs/cats before and I was a nervous, over-protective wreck about them getting all stressed

it was not fun, though they did pretty well...me on the other hand I was inwardly a total anxious mess worried about them hahaha!
So any advice on what size cages and how many chickens per cage is good? Good point about weeding out a few...I'll have to think on that cause I tend to love 'em all lol!

What about if it rains while on the road? What kind of vehicle is best...flatbed open trailer ok or more enclosed but ventilated like horse trailer or what? Would there be any bio-security things to look out for when acclimating them to new place? We are looking at going from Kansas to northern lower Michigan.
Good advice so far....thank you! Keep it comin'...you are givin' me hope that it can be done

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here is how we move birds. We have built boxes, one is 2x2 by 4 feet long. It is a plywood box, essentially, with a chicken wire panel stapled on the front for fresh air exchange. Another box is 3x3 by about 6 ft long. Also a plywood box, light gage plywood, 3/8" plywood, as these can get heavy. We find the one cubic foot per chicken rule to suffice.

We put these travel boxes either in the back of the pickup, or on a rear hitch carrier, the kind people use to take along large totes of gear when camping. I've also pulled my utility trailer and carried travel boxes in the trailer. Unless it is a real down pour, the interiors of the boxes don't get wet. A caution, though, about sunny days. If the ambient air was warmer than 83F or so, I prefer to travel from dusk throughout the night and it's darkness. A super hot day? No can do. Here's photo from the perspective of being inside one of the larger travel boxes.




Since we only moved this guy a mile, we didn't bother to put straw in the bottom. We like to make a nice cushy bed of straw, some 3" deep for them to rest on. I attach a small cup waterer to the inside of the box. We can pour a water from a bottle into it, when we stop for an hour's break.

I've transported as many as 18 birds, in two boxes, of this size. 10 in one box and 8 in another. Not a problem. We only have large fowl. Heading my way, eh? Great to have you come on up!!!

 

[barnyard betty]

Fred's Hens~Wonderful! Great pic...This helps a lot, I will have to start getting some plans together and once we know more about the move this fall we can build them over winter. Yeah for sure the temp will be important to watch, we are hoping for spring but aren't sure. All depends on what the housing market is doing up there and what we find that would be suitable for us. We for sure need some acres. So many things to look in to...

How is the economy up there? I hear it's better than it was a year or so ago but not sure how it is compared to lower MI

I'm originally from Michigan (the most beautiful state in my book especially northern) and let me tell ya...this little Michigan girl just about died here in Kansas the last summer! I'm not used to heat like this nearly 100's every day for months LOL! I can't wait to get back to the great lakes area...you don't appreciate how beautiful Michigan is until you leave it

Since you are around there, do you have any good info on any poultry and or livestock auctions breeders and swap meets around there? We also have some quail that we may or may not bring with us. My boyfriend likes quail and has had pheasants in the past...he's from Kansas, wondering what the local scene on livestock and poultry is up there. We hope to have horses and maybe some cows or alpacas in the future...
Gosh...thanks so much for the info! Much appreciated!

Michiganders rule!!! LOL!

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'll pm you.

 

[7L Farm]

I haven't really traveled very far with chickens but one day I had one that was sick. I put a towel on the front seat of my truck & she just sat there & seemed to like the ride.

 

[BGinVA]

I'll admit that I'm a complete newbie but in addition to the chicken's comfort and safety and your own sanity don't you need to check with the state that you are considering moving them to to see if they have any specific requirements like NPIP certification or something?

 

[mrsfilmman5]

are you still out there barnyard betty??? we are moving from ks to ca with 10 hens in tow... any advise??? dog crate? poultry transportation coop?? im getting stressed about this move already and id hate for these girls to get overwhelmed too.