Traveling with chickens?

[StarMalouff]

Hello all! 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

 

[TwoCrows]

I have never traveled with chickens, but I have traveled with parrots. They do fairly well, although some of them do better with cage covers to keep them feeling secure. And some of them even got car sick. I would imagine until your chickens get used to traveling, they may stop laying for a while. Chickens stress pretty easily, so I am not sure how this will go. But you never know! You may have road chickens in no time!

Good luck with this new venture!!

 

[StarMalouff]

Thank you for the encouragement, and the welcome! Should be getting the chicks in about a month and have them traveling in their covered travel box right from the start. Hoping that the girls will think like the boys, its just a normal routine. Soooo excited to get the chicks, three RIR and three buff orpingtons!

 

[drumstick diva]

My concern would be that they would get a draft if the car windows are open, and worry that if they escape they won't "come " to you like the dogs would.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! I've never traveled that routinely with specific chickens, but have taken some to and from friends occasionally. Usually just use a plastic dog crate and have food water bowls attached to the doors. If you get the chickens used to the crates, ie put the chickens in the crates before hand a few times with treats etc (just like you would a dog) they don't seem to be terribly upset and will eat and drink etc after a little while. The main thing that would concern me with doing it often with laying hens is that you could eventually cause problems with egg laying, binding etc since even if they are somewhat used to it it will be pretty big stress... Unless you are traveling at night, I would consider not keeping them in the dark the whole trip since you don't want laying hens without drinking water especially for that long.

 

[StarMalouff]

Thank you both for the 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!

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

I do that several times a year and they all go in the truck in cages
Geese 7, Chickens 25, Genies 3, Ducks 4, I know not much but
I can never take them all that is all I have cages for and they eat
all the bugs were we go camping or when I go to visit family

Sounds like you have the traveling arrangements correct ...

 

[StarMalouff]

That is terrific! So glad to hear others that take our feathered and furry friends along! ^_^
Question...do your crates have roosting bars? Someone has suggested this and 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. ;-)

 

[gander007]

I have them all sitting on a bed of straw if for no other reason then their own safety ....

 

[StarMalouff]

THANK YOU!
My thoughts exactly, would be very upset if they somehow got hurt flying off a roost mid trip.
(And here I thought maybe we were the only kookie folks out there traveling with chickens! LOL)