https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=222358&p=2 is a stellar writeup of shipping!
http://www.hm-e.net/ designs, builds, & sells boxes.
I haven't yet shipped, but have received; four 1-2 year old birds.
I shopped around and ended up buying a 4-stall box from Horizon and having it shipped to the seller. They ship the empty boxes priority because some have not arrived when shipped parcel post.
Up to 3 of the single boxes can be taped together, to count as a single package.
Horizon often has specials on boxes and/or shipping
They also have retailers all over, but none in CA had the 4-stall. The Omni (more readily available from CA & OR retailers) had barely enough room but is not rated for as much weight.
If I ever ship I will use apples, pears, or asian pears, with a wedge (or bite
) removed.
One of mine, the roo, didn't survive the trip. His fruit was hardly touched, so we think he tried to jump hard enough to break out, and broke his neck, early in the trip. Gorgeous guy too!
The breeder is replacing him with 2 younger guys who might be more tolerant of being boxed, which is very kind of her and absolutely not expected, for the cost of shipping.
Live birds
must go Express, even if they cannot guarantee overnight delivery, which they could not for mine, who took 36 hours to get here.
My Post Office was awesome, and called me as soon as they arrived (5AM, they said they usually wait until about 9 to call but I told them ahead to call me asap), and were concerned about the birds being quiet. I noticed that they spent the night at a hub 20 miles away, so next time I will beg them to call me to pick them up there.
I get mine here: http://poultry2.tripod.com/id3.html
