Tips for transport to and from coop without too much stress?

[Echelontheory101]

Hey guys!

So 3 of my chicks are now 3 weeks old and my other 8 chicks are a couple days short of 2 weeks old, so we are going to start taking field trips outside and to their coop/run during the day this weekend. (Outside temps in the 50s coop/run temps in the 60s during the day 30s at night already)

When I clean their brooder I pick each one up and put them in my cats soft sided cat carrier and they are fine in there while I clean it out and then move them back one by one checking for pasty butt etc. BUT if I pick UP the carrier while theyre in it they absolutely freak out. I know they'll enjoy the time outside and need to start hardening off for winter temps but starting to integrate to outside plus the tempurature swing of inside my house to new England fall in the coop is already putting stress on their little systems so dont wanna add more unnecessary stress if possible.

How do you guys(who brood inside) usually move chicks back and forth at this stage without over stressing them? (Yes I know alot of you brood them outside in freezing temps and they can just be outside from day 1 and be fine etc but I dont have electricity out there right now and will next year so not looking for advice on why them brooding inside is worse etc. Next batch will brood outside next year)

May just be a necessary evil but always interested in tips and tricks! Thanks in advance!

Pic just cause theyre cute

 

[Sefirothe]

My first batch I brooded in the basement. To bring them out for excursions to their pen, I put them in a cardboard box. They did panic when picked up and moved but the darkness in the box with the lids closed seemed to help. I also tried to make the trip as quick and smooth as possible.

They always settled quickly and enjoyed both the freedom of the pen and going back into the familiar brooder.

 

[Echelontheory101]

My first batch I brooded in the basement. To bring them out for excursions to their pen, I put them in a cardboard box. They did panic when picked up and moved but the darkness in the box with the lids closed seemed to help. I also tried to make the trip as quick and smooth as possible.

They always settled quickly and enjoyed both the freedom of the pen and going back into the familiar brooder.

View attachment 4239335

Perfect! Darkness makes total sense just like Steve Irwin throwing a towel over a crocodiles head I'll try putting a light blanket over the carrier. Also how cute look how scruffly they are!!!

 

[kattabelly]

My house is half a mile away from where my chickens live and they've got used to making trips there and back from two days old until they go out full-time several weeks later. They go in a cardboard box for a few days and then a pet carrier from about a week or so old.

They will scream at first because it's new and scary. Just ignore it, they're not getting hurt. They'll get used to it soon enough.

 

[Echelontheory101]

My house is half a mile away from where my chickens live and they've got used to making trips there and back from two days old until they go out full-time several weeks later. They go in a cardboard box for a few days and then a pet carrier from about a week or so old.

They will scream at first because it's new and scary. Just ignore it, they're not getting hurt. They'll get used to it soon enough.

Perfect! Thanks!