Taking for butchering tomorrow. Questions.

[Hope119]

I plan to take 7 roos for butchering tomorrow. It is around 11:30pm right now and dd (I was thinking a 5yo would be soundly sleeping during this time, but she stayed up) and I just finished putting them into our car. They are in a dog crate. I know the size of the crate is fine, as 12 chickens lived the entire winter in it, not going out every day. But we have covered the crate with a waterproofed tablecloth and some sheets and a small blanket (some parts of the crate got few layers, some - just one) in hope to keep it darker for them.
1) Do you think there would be enough air in a mini-van? I think I should go open the windows.
2) the earliest they will be processed is at noon tomorrow. More likely - later in the afternoon. Should I give them water and food? The outside temperature is going to be 85F at noon tomorrow. Might be higher in that crate, who knows.
3) any other recommendations?

Thanks!

this is our first time, I am a bit nervous.

 

[paddock36]

I wouldn't leave them in the car all that time. Temp in the car could reach 130 degrees very easily and quickly once the sun comes up. Also, with them in the car all night pooping

in the box the smell is going to be terrible. Water I would give them but they don't need food.

 

[Hope119]

okay, I'll try to get me and kids ready to drive our roosters as early as possible (which would probably mean that we'll leave around 10am) and then I hope we'll leave them at the butchering place. I'll try to find rabbit's spare bottle in the morning - they liked to drink from it when they were little.
Thanks!
ps I better go open the car windows.

 

[CarolAnn]

Quote:
With those temperatures you have them loaded into a covered crate and in your car overnight? No water? Whew, I'd think that'd get stifiling hot overnight! They generate a lot of heat themselves. I'm guessing you don't want your 5 yr old to see them be taken away. I'd suggest uncovering them and at least open the windows and giving them water.

 

[Hope119]

My 5yo is fine. She knew from the very beginning that all but one roosters will eventually become food. She helped me to carry them from the coop to the car now and both of my kids (5yo and 22mo) will be with me driving to the butchering place. I wanted to cover them to make it more dark for the roosters... I was hoping they'll be less conscious if it's darker. I opened all 4 windows in the car all the way down. It is about 70F outside right now. So you think I should remove all the covers?

 

[Hope119]

So I took the covers off and hung a water bottle (I hope they did not forget how to drink from it).

 

[mchl]

for a cleaner butchering process they should be taken off feed and water, I believe for 8 hrs you might look that up. It makes the job cleaner.

 

[Hope119]

Even when it is hot outside?

 

[Ariel301]

I do withhold feed for up to 24 hours on an animal to be butchered, it makes gutting easier (especially on ruminant animals like goats, you do NOT want to puncture anything in there, yuck!) plus it's less waste of food that gets thrown away while still inside the animal's stomach, but never withhold water. Here in the desert, 24 hours is more than long enough to die of dehydration.

 

[annageckos]

I have a mini van and only the front two windows open fully. The back too only open a crack, maybe six inches or so. If your van is like mine it will get too hot fast. I would not keep them in there until it is time to leave.