Traveling with chickens? Help!

[StarMalouff]

Hello all! New here and very excited to be getting 3 RIR and 3 buff orpington chicks very soon.
Was wondering if anyone out there travels regularly with their chickens? We have two homes. We spend our time about 50/50 and travel with our dogs. The boys are a Saint Bernard-Zeus and a Newfie/lab mix-Dobby. (Pic below)We have an elaborate set up for them to ride the twelve hour trip every two weeks in complete comfort. Individual crates, heated in the winter, cooled in the summer. Now we are adding 6 chickens to the Traveling Family.
The plan is to provide the girls with a community travel box 2'x4-1/2' similar in size to a three box nesting box. It will be kept dark for the trip, have water, and apple or watermelon treats. The chicks will begin traveling at four weeks old.
Questions: Has anyone regularly taken their chickens on road trips? Do hens get adjusted to routines? Any suggestions??
Thank you

 

[red horse ranch]

Hello all! New here and very excited to be getting 3 RIR and 3 buff orpington chicks very soon.
Was wondering if anyone out there travels regularly with their chickens? We have two homes. We spend our time about 50/50 and travel with our dogs. The boys are a Saint Bernard-Zeus and a Newfie/lab mix-Dobby. (Pic below)We have an elaborate set up for them to ride the twelve hour trip every two weeks in complete comfort. Individual crates, heated in the winter, cooled in the summer. Now we are adding 6 chickens to the Traveling Family.
The plan is to provide the girls with a community travel box 2'x4-1/2' similar in size to a three box nesting box. It will be kept dark for the trip, have water, and apple or watermelon treats. The chicks will begin traveling at four weeks old.
Questions: Has anyone regularly taken their chickens on road trips? Do hens get adjusted to routines? Any suggestions??
Thank you

I used to have a crippled hen who traveled everywhere with us. We went on camping trips and to visit family. I kept her in a small wire cage so she could look at everything while we traveled. And sleep in it at night. She always handled the traveling well.
And we always had our dog with us too.

 

[StarMalouff]

That's terrific, thank you for the information! The thought was if the girls traveled in a darkened crate they would feel more secure and perhaps just rest on the way.
Love the idea of having them with us all the time!!

 

[aart]

Will they have an adequate coop and run at each place?

Chickens don't really like change, they may be able to get used to it but it might take a long time and may really interfere with their laying.

Will be interested to see how it will work out.

 

[StarMalouff]

Thank you for the thoughts and ideas. Wonderful to have lots of input from others.
The boys (dogs) travel in the enclosed camper shell in their individual crates, they have a heating/cooling system run by solar power, each has their own fan. Basically, the dogs go every where we do 24/7...even if its just a ride to church on Sunday or to the grocery store!
The girls will have their coop and run at each house and will only travel between coops. One is already done the other in progress to be built as close to the first as possible. They have about a 7'x9' coop with three nesting boxes each side and the runs will be about 12'x24', and 8' tall with chain link top. (As predator proof as we can make it ^_^) Anticipate providing the girls with as much comfort as possible. Their brooder will become their travel crate, fully enclosed at the bottom, vented on top above them, for less draft. Travel water bottle system (three with a bit of organic apple cider vinegar and just a touch of crushed garlic in each), travel treats, bedding to include their fresh lavender and mint, (just like the nesting boxes). The trip is basically straight through, so not much different than bedding down for the night.
Keep the thoughts and ideas coming!! Want my girls as happy as the boys!

 

[aart]

Well, dogs are I think much more adaptive to change and different environs... let us know how the chooks adapt.

 

[StarMalouff]

Will do! Thanks for all the responses, greatly appreciate y'all!!

 

[kdwag]

just curious, is there a roost bar in their crate or do they just sit in a nest? If they sit, how do you keep them from getting all poopy since they seem to do that alot when they sleep??

 

[StarMalouff]

My thought was of hens flying all over the place every time we hit a bump! Eeek!!
We were thinking more in terms of stablility. Figured to use a lot of nesting materials to soak up any messes. ;-)

 

[aart]

My thought was of hens flying all over the place every time we hit a bump! Eeek!!
We were thinking more in terms of stablility. Figured to use a lot of nesting materials to soak up any messes. ;-)

Check out the Mercedes Benz chicken commercial.....chickens can ride!