transporting young chicks ~5hours?

[valdalefarm]

We are going to be moving homes in a couple weeks, about 5 1/2 hours north. We currently have 6 backyard chickens that we got from local breeders in the past. One breeder raises fairly rare Rhode Island Whites, and we were pretty happy with them. We're moving to a farm, and are interested in bringing some RI Whites to start our own flock. We could get some chicks right now, and they'd be 2-3 weeks old when we move. Or we might be able to get younger ones right before we were to move.
We're wondering how young chicks would handle this trip? Obviously newly hatched chicks are shipping for a couple days all the time, but didn't know how being a bit older than that would effect things. We'd ideally be able to get 20+. Would they stay warm enough (could put it hot water bottle or the like)? Would it be overly stressful? We don't want to get these chicks only to have them fail afterwards!

 

[llaaadyel]

I have moved ducklings in the car over a few hours. I put them in a box with towels or hay on the floor and keep the heat on. That seemed to work out very well. Also I make sure that the box isn't too big so that they keep each other warm too.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

better than a hot water bottle... a rice sock... dry rice in a tube sock... tie the end of the sock shut... warm in microwave for 2-3 minutes... place 2 with the babies (one on either side of the box/carrier,making sure they can walk away from it if need be), covered with hand towels. a lot of gas stations have microwaves for customer use and you could re-warm when you stop for gas. you may not even to need to re-warm as the rice holds heat well for several hours and then still stays lukewarm for a while after that.
good luck w/the babies and your new place!

 

[Judy]

I've read here several times of people doing this without a problem, with something like the rice sock.

 

[Thomas423]

I brought 4 silkie chicks from California to Maryland. They did fine. We used a plastic tote. We kept the lid on while driving so they slept and kept warm. When we stopped I gave them food and water. In the hotel, we put them in the bathroom with the light on so they stayed up all night.
I recently brought 5 chicks and 6 adults home from New York. About 6 hours total. They were just in cardboard boxes and all did fine.
I would think that either age would do fine.

 

[valdalefarm]

Great! We do have a couple rice bags that we did figure we could use too, including reheating along the way. My parents' will have a brooder/light waiting for them at new place as well.