Traveling with chicken

[Ccort]

Hi!

I am taking my pullet to a vet specialist about 2.5 hours away and we may be staying the night in a hotel as well.

Any tips for traveling with a chicken? I bought a new carrier large enough for her to stand and move around minimally. I thought I would put towels down in it. She can't have food but can have water. Obviously, I can't have a water bowl in the travel carrier or it would make a big mess. Any tips for a smooth trip?

Also, since she can't eat and will be in a hotel all night...any tips so she's not bored and scared?

I plan to house her for the night in a large hamster cage with towels and a makeshift nest box to lay in.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Train her to a water bottle. My OEGB are inside with me for quarantine, and I was using my gerbils' two-level cage (poor gerbils are in a storage drawer in the meantime!) and they discovered the water bottle I'd left attached and love it.

Train her that the cage is not an evil place. When is the trip? If you place her in the carrier or cage for a small amount of time, then longer, and longer, and give her a special treat when she comes out, she won't associate it with anything bad. Can she not stay in the carrier in the hotel room?

Maybe getting a few toys for her, like a bell on a chain, a mirror, beads on a wire, etc, would keep her from getting bored and stressed, too.

 

[Ccort]

Train her to a water bottle. My OEGB are inside with me for quarantine, and I was using my gerbils' two-level cage (poor gerbils are in a storage drawer in the meantime!) and they discovered the water bottle I'd left attached and love it.

Train her that the cage is not an evil place. When is the trip? If you place her in the carrier or cage for a small amount of time, then longer, and longer, and give her a special treat when she comes out, she won't associate it with anything bad. Can she not stay in the carrier in the hotel room?

Maybe getting a few toys for her, like a bell on a chain, a mirror, beads on a wire, etc, would keep her from getting bored and stressed, too.

We leave either Wednesday night or extremely early Thursday morning. I wonder if I put a water bottle in it if she would catch on quickly especially since they use a nipple waterer now.

The toys are a good idea. I have some hamster toys that I can add.

I wasn't going to leave her in the actual car carrier in the hotel because it's so small. The hamster cage gives her twice the room but easy to carry around too.

 

[Canadian Wind]

We leave either Wednesday night or extremely early Thursday morning. I wonder if I put a water bottle in it if she would catch on quickly especially since they use a nipple waterer now.

The toys are a good idea. I have some hamster toys that I can add.

I wasn't going to leave her in the actual car carrier in the hotel because it's so small. The hamster cage gives her twice the room but easy to carry around too.

Not much time, then.

Okay, I figured the carrier might be bigger than the cage, thus why I suggested that.

She should understand the concept of the water bottle, then. That's good.

Most I've done with my birds is a couple of hours, hope it goes well for you, and at the vet!

 

[Ccort]

Not much time, then.

Okay, I figured the carrier might be bigger than the cage, thus why I suggested that.

She should understand the concept of the water bottle, then. That's good.

Most I've done with my birds is a couple of hours, hope it goes well for you, and at the vet!

Thanks. I'm very nervous about the visit itself and debating on the night in a hotel vs a 4am start. Even my early bird self knows thats excessive!

 

[Canadian Wind]

Thanks. I'm very nervous about the visit itself and debating on the night in a hotel vs a 4am start. Even my early bird self knows thats excessive!

Don't I know it! I've left for cat shows back in the day at midnight the day of, then came back home after! Are you driving alone? If not, an early start could be a good idea, and just switch drivers so one can nap.

 

[Ccort]

Don't I know it! I've left for cat shows back in the day at midnight the day of, then came back home after! Are you driving alone? If not, an early start could be a good idea, and just switch drivers so one can nap.

I used to visit cat shows! Not to compete but just to see the cats and buy mine toys.

I'm driving alone, unfortunately!

 

[Canadian Wind]

I used to visit cat shows! Not to compete but just to see the cats and buy mine toys.

I'm driving alone, unfortunately!

I'd show mine in the household pet category. Did that for a while, until it got too expensive.

Too bad you have to go alone. I'd still suggest doing the early morning thing, then see how you and the pullet feel at the end of the day.

 

[aart]

I wonder if I put a water bottle in it if she would catch on quickly especially since they use a nipple waterer now.

What kind of nipples?
I have small bottles with horizontal nipples, they work great in crates.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/small-bottle-horizontal-nipple-waterer-for-wire-crates-by-aart.72704/

 

[Kathy2112]

I've found that putting a cover over the cage can help the chicken keep calm/sleep during the drive.