Safe way to transport birds to slaughter

[burnyourmoney]

We are in the process of raising our first batch of birds that we will have processed. What type of vehicle is best used to get the birds from here to there. It's about a 1 hour trip. Pickup, pickup with cap, van, trailer? We have chicken boxes so that's no issue. I'm sure weather is a factor, so lets say right now during this heat wave, and then also during the fall when temps will be around 45-60?

The first batch I need to move is tomorrow and there are 60 of them, the second batch will either be broken into two sets of 100 or a single run of 200.

Thanks

 

[LilyD]

We are in the process of raising our first batch of birds that we will have processed. What type of vehicle is best used to get the birds from here to there. It's about a 1 hour trip. Pickup, pickup with cap, van, trailer? We have chicken boxes so that's no issue. I'm sure weather is a factor, so lets say right now during this heat wave, and then also during the fall when temps will be around 45-60?
The first batch I need to move is tomorrow and there are 60 of them, the second batch will either be broken into two sets of 100 or a single run of 200.
Thanks

I do all my birds here but I would have to say if I was doing them at odd times and had to transport them I would go the pickup with the cap. That way you can put them in and have the option of leaving the top door of the cap open or closed depending on how hot it is. Also transporting as early in the morning as possible on the hot days would really help to keep them cool so they don't die from stress on the trip.

 

[jaj121159]

If it is warm and/or humid do not use a pickup with a capper, even if it has open windows. I've tried that on a warm (high 70's) day and lost quite a few. I now use an open pick up and set the boxes so the air can flow through. Try avoid moving them in the heat of the day. The place I take mine is about an hour away. We've had some triple digit temps and the last batch I waited to move them until after dark.

 

[mstricer]

We don't have to go far, we use transport cages and put them in the hatch of my Ford focus.

 

[booker81]

For some reason, the thought of a bunch of chickens in a Focus makes me smile. Kinda like the guy that passed me on the highway with a goat in the back of his Jeep Cherokee (loose in the back).

I slaughter at home, but transport chickens in a dog crate in the back of the Expedition.

 

[burnyourmoney]

Thanks everyone, open pickup it will be.

My brother just lets his 2 birds walk freely in the car when he travels. It's not uncommon to see them sitting on the dash while he is driving

 

[ChickNhood]

Thanks everyone, open pickup it will be.
My brother just lets his 2 birds walk freely in the car when he travels. It's noand I though the dusr was a pain to clean off my dash...couldnt imagine chciken sh..t on the dssh carpet seats....yuckt uncommon to see them sitting on the dash while he is driving

 

[burnyourmoney]

His are well trained. They poop in a box

 

[trifecta]

I had a bunch of chickens in a dog crate in the hatch of my Prius. I thought the guy at the processing plant was going to wet his pants when we drove in!

 

[loanwizard]

My brooder is a 5 x 8 utility trailer with sides a mesh top and a mesh tailgate. That's where they begin, and that's where they end. It can handle about 100 birds at a time.