Traveling with a Chicken

[hencam]

As the author of a children's book featuring my chickens - Tillie Lays an Egg - I am now taking my bantam white leghorn to story times at libraries and schools. She's been traveling happily in a guinea pig cage bedded with hay (gives her secure footing.) She has no problem spending the day away from the flock, in the car, and then meeting (and being pet by) many children. But - now I'm being asked to travel further from home. I'm finding that as nighttime approaches she gets anxious in her cage - I think she's looking for a roost. Should I be covering the cage and keeping it dark? Also, anyone have experience with chickens at hotels? On airplanes? Trains? This little hen could fit into a dog carrier under a seat.
Also, when you travel with your chickens do you give them access to feed while in the vehicle? I've never done the poultry shows, so there's probably a lot of BYCers who are experienced traveling and can give me some hints. Thanks!

 

[Blue Skys]

I'm not sure about traveling with chickens, but call around to different airlines, they might require a health certificate, it might depend on what state your going to so you could always call to find out what each state requires. Red Roof inn and La Quinta are the hotels I stay at when traveling with my dogs, maybe they wouldn't mind your chicken?? I hope some others chime in for better advice.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

It is simple
you buy a pet carrier for the chicken as she will need a guinea pig hanging water bottle that she will earn to drink from
chickens pick up on this
and you will need to fastem a heavy cat dish to the side of the carrier so she has chicken feed in it
now put the hay as her bed and she doesn't need a roost
they will have you put your name and address taped to the pet carrier and she will have to be signed in the plane carrier for animals
very simple
you will have to buy a ticket price for her riding in the baggage dept
that is how people ship birds and animals
always have the door fasten with a plastic electric tie
it is sold in lighting dept of walmart
called electric ties people use them as chicken bands
which I do not like as the chickens leg grows bigger these ties can cut off circula

Smith's Poultry & Game Bird Supply

14000 W. 215th St., Bucyrus, KS 66013-9519

Ph. 913-879-2587 Fax. 913-533-2497

supplies sell the numbered spirel bands

Walmart should have the pet carriers

but besure and fix the feeder dish and water bottle tightly to the carrier
she will be happier in this carrier cage

I am not in agreement with uner the set
they never allowed it on the plane's when I transported chickens to show's

 

[Tala]

I refuse to fly my dog in the baggage compartment. Period. If I'm taking pets then I'm driving.

Google it, think long and hard about it, and consider what might happen if your baggage gets flown to the wrong city, or worse!

 

[AkTomboy]

You will need a health cert as spoken before and they only last ten days. Also you can fly with her under the seat if she is small enough. I have flown both with a Macaw and a Cockatoo under the seat with me from Cali to Alaska. Hope that helps some.

 

[Attack Chicken]

I smuggled a baby chick on the bus once

I thought I would get caught but I didn't...but then again only a 15 minute ride home from school.

 

[Suzaku]

OMG IM STARSTRUCKED! she is the author of the book which I've been trying to buy from book stores in my country (philippines) to no avail! how do i buy your book? Thank you and more power!!!!


anyhow, I also have the same problem.last week i traveled with 12, three- weeks old chicks ( 6 white leghorns, 5 free rangers and 1 black star) and 1 duckling. I dont have my own car and the province where i needed to bring them to was 5 hours away..it was hard to get a comfortable bus to accommodate us, most of them wanted me to place my chicks in the compartment of the bus ( i declined to do that cause they might die and there were the most precious batch of chicks for me because I never had any white leghorn before and i started them from eggs). and my pets almost died when i fell asleep. I wasnt aware that the floor where i put the box was too hot, i only realized it after 3 hours. they were almost dead, very soft, very warm and chirping helplessly. good thing i brought water dextrose with me and let them drank one by one. I decided to place the box in the vacant chair next to me and offered to pay the actual fair for that. few minutes later the bus got more passengers who had to stand since there were no more available seats ( and i refused to give them the one beside me since i paid for it so that my chicks could have a more comfortable spot in the bus).

make the long story short, they survived the ordeal and are now having a happy life in the 3 hectare farm where they will soon free range once they are hardy enough, along with our Philippine Native chickens and free range cornish cross.

however, I'm having another problem since i am anticipating 27 or less chicks ( depending on how many will hatch) on March 26.. travelling with 13 chicks was almosta disaster, so i cant imagine how would it be with 27! should i allow them to be placed in the bus' comppartment? is it best to send them in their 1st week or should i wait for few days or weeks when they are older? please help!