In preparation to P-day (processing day) I have checked around for prices for the best deal for processing. Next on the agenda is, how do i get the birds there?!? The plastic chicken crates seem a little pricey. Anyone make their own chicken crates? I have about 35 birds to process.
Can you borrow some dog crates? Or just go get some big cardboard boxes from the grocery store or area recycle center (if you have one).
Be carefull if traveling very far, not to make the crate/pen too tall, so they don't pile up and smother. There's a reason chicken crates are built low.
Make a cage out of chicken wire. This allows you to pack them tight and not over heat because if you have a truck and put them in the bed it gives them a nice bress
What is the proper height for a crate? Can the bottom be chicken wire or should it be a smaller opening mesh like 1/2"?
Be careful not to travel when hot, either. See my post about giving my bird a heart attack. I moved my bird ten feet, into a somewhat familiar (they had slept there in a couple of storms) chicken coop, just ten feet from their normal area that they hang out. Combined with the heat, it was enough to kill one of my birds. It really convinced me, if I wasnt already convinced, that doing my own processing, is the right thing to do.
I made my own crate out of 2x3s and chicken wire. It wasnt pretty but it did the job. I later found a new wire folding dog crate for 6.00 at the thrift store.
Quote:I would make the bottom solid, wire bottom would be troublesome with toes going through the wire when moving the crate. Plus would keep birds below cleaner if crates are stackable. Height, depending on size of birds, tall enough to stand in, but not so tall that they will try to climb up over their pen mates.
