transporting new hens in my van -- what to expect

[msjones]

I'm going to pick up my 3 buff orpington hens this morning. We'll have at least an hour drive home. I have a van. How will this work?

How do I do this? What do I put them in while we're driving? Are they going to go beserk? Am I?

Any info, suggestions, advice welcome. We're totally new to this.

 

[morelcabin]

You can just put them in a cardboard box with vent holes. You probably won't hear a peep. They have a tendancy to just hunker down when in motion

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Yup, plain old cardboard boxes will do. Darkness generally calms birds. I once took a chicken to a public speaking class (for my speech topic) in a box and she never let out a peep for 2 hours.

 

[catwalk]

That's right! I throw my rooster down the basement every morning when he starts crowing, and I don't hear anything from him until I let him back out!

Don't open the windows too far, just in case!

 

[Southernbelle]

I used dog crates, cat carriers, rabbit cages and cardboard boxes to transport birds. Put some shavings or hay in the bottom. They don't make much noise while driving - just some scrabbling around when you've taken a turn too fast

If they poop, you'll have to smell it until you get home. Not usually a problem for me, but DH and kids complain

 

[msjones]

You were all right -- they hardly made a peep! And the little things are just 4 months old, so they all hunkered down in one cardboard file-size box, and did just fine.

Now, they're out in the coop and seem happy. Thanks for the information!