Taking for butchering tomorrow. Questions.

[Hope119]

I used to have a mini-van like that, but in the current one the second row windows open almost to the bottom too. I won't do it again the way I did this time. Next time I will chase them in their run in the morning.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
I think you're thinking about the wrong things. The stress of being hot and confined will be more disturbing to the roosters than the light.

My suggestion would be to let them roost where they usually do, but remove their food so they don't eat in the morning. Put them in the crate in the morning before you leave. Make sure they have access to water until you are transporting.

 

[Hope119]

I think you're thinking about the wrong things.

I did.
If I remove the food, it would mean removing it for everybody - we plan to leave 9 hens (if we guessed right on them) and 1 roo.​

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I did.
If I remove the food, it would mean removing it for everybody - we plan to leave 9 hens (if we guessed right on them) and 1 roo.

yes, for a short time. But when you cage up the others to be butchered just replace the food before you leave. did they go to the butchers yet? how were their sizes and such-how old were they?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Before I process I put the candidates in small cages or crates out of reach of food but with plenty of water. I try to give them 12-18 hours without food. If possible I try to time it so I can crate them after dark, so there isn't all that chasing around the pen to do. If I plan to drive them somewhere else for processing I may still cage them, but I wouldn't put them in the van until right before I was ready to drive away. The more time they're in the vehicle the more they'll make it smell.