Moving with chickens

[Neville-Smith]

We are moving to Orkney from the north east of England with, amongst other animals and children, 4 chickens. It is 450 miles by car, then 2 hours by ferry, followed by another one hour ferry. I think the chickens will find this stressful. They have a big Egloo here which will follow as the move progresses but will be without it for at least one week. I will be stopping en route. Any suggestions about the tolerance of chickens, best way to transport them??

[Egluntyne]

They will comfortably manage a couple of hours. Is there someone half way that you could 'park' them with for a few days whilst you sort things out?

[Chucky Mama]

It sounds like a long journey with the drive and the ferry. I think that I would take care to keep their temperature comfortable during the journey and make sure that they have fluid available . You can get non spill bowl that you could perhaps use. Usually a couple of cardboard pet carriers would be sufficient but I wonder if something like a small dog crate with a sheet over the top to keep it dark (will make them more feel more secure) might be better for such a long journey. Other Omleteers who have transported chickens over long distances on Chicken Trains will know more that me though. Hopefully someone else more experienced will be along soon. How many hours do you estimate the whole journey will be?

[Redwing]

Chickens are pretty good on long journeys, I've done a couple of shows where they have been in a car for up to 10 hours at a time

You have a couple of options on travel boxes depending on the room available in the car!

A dog crate as mentioned above would be great, if you cant fit one in to the car then a dog carrier would fit two chickens for that time (one of the ones with the wire door - not the smaller cat carrier though) failing that a big cardboard box with a window cut out covered with mesh would be ok for two chooks - basically anything that you can hook a water pot on to

Dont fill the water pot too high and have it so you can fill it with a bottle from outside the cage/box (squeezy sports bottles are good for this)

Unless what you use has a few inches deep base bedding will go all over the place an old towel or puppy training pads are better

If it was a short journey I would say go for a dark enclosed space like a cardboard box but on a long journey the chooks will need to drink and I speak from experience when I say that opening a cardboard box in a service station is not wise!!

Dont put them in a boot if you have a saloon. If you have a hatchback they can go in the back with the parcel shelf removed or angled so that there is a good foot of airspace, have the aircon on in the car, if you have the temp so that its a little cold for you it will be fine for the chickens, dont rely on an open window.

when you get to your new house they'll need somewhere to live for that first week - whatever you used to transport them they could sleep in that in a shed or garage overnight for safety, a rabbit run would be ok during the day if its high enough, its not ideal but something about 6 x 4 is the minimum space you can get away with as a short term measure, they'll be ok for a week. An alternative would be to section off part of a shed or garage for them, just be sure there is plenty of ventilation!

Good luck with the move!

[Neville-Smith]

Thank you for your very useful postings. I now understand that I dark cardboard box for 2 days is not possible and that I need something like a dog crate with water and some food and plenty of ventilation. The journey will be about 9 hours by car, with rest breaks. Not sure whether any B&B is hen friendly. Then 2 ferries ....
Some less sentimental people say why not start with new hens but I guess many Omleteers will understand the situation, especially since they officially are the childrens' pets.
Roger

[WitchHazel]

Can't add much to the excellent advice you've already received.. except: keep the chooks supplied with iceberg lettuce or a cucumber cut in half lengthways. (don't chop it, keep it as whole as possible). This gives them something to occupy them and is an easy way to get water in to them (they often won't drink whilst travelling otherwise).

Replace with fresh cucumber/iceberg lettuce as they use it up.

Good luck!

[lwescott]

I read somewhere that when they ship chickens across states in the US they transport them with half a watermelon 'cos it gives the chickens something to peck at, and it keeps them hydrated

[WitchHazel]

I read somewhere that when they ship chickens across states in the US they transport them with half a watermelon 'cos it gives the chickens something to peck at, and it keeps them hydrated

That was on here somewhere... that's what gave me the idea about the lettuce and since then I always pop something in the box - even if we're just going to the Vets.

[Neville-Smith]

Well I did the move
3 chickens in a medium sized dog crate in the car, wired up the water feeder and put straw on the floor, pellets in a dish and half apples and melon on the floor too. I stopped every 1-2 hours for a break. They were admired repeatedly. Eventually I arrived at the ferry after 7 hours travel, boarded and left chickens in the hold for another 6 hours. Disembarked and drove a few miles for B&B. Left chickens in car with food and water overnight. Another drive and another ferry, then after 4 more hours reached their new but temporary lodgings. They appeared to be in good condition, fed and drank throughout the journey and laid 2 eggs.
I was very relieved that the long journey went so well

[WitchHazel]

Sounds like a horrendous journey for you, never mind the chickens!

Well done on organising it so well, look forward to hearing about how you all settle in to your new home.
Hazel x

[Plum]

Well done, sounds like they had a good journey The children and other animals must have had an interesting journey. I'm trying to picture what sort of can you have....... stretched campavan?