4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[wiblick]

Just wondering if anyone uses a cat carrier box thingy for transporting their hens. I was thiking of buying one but ideally would like it to fit 3 hens at growing age (12 weeks) and 2 larger.

 

I suppose the thing would be to go for the biggest one possible, but just wanted to get some feedback from people.

[ted]

I am no expert but I know that its better for them to be in the dark to keep tham calm. I think cat boxes have windows... Also the box should be small enough that they dont slide around in there when being transported.

 

I saw this... but I have always made one whenever I needed. then I can make sure its the right size e.g. only taking one bantam to vet on short journey...

 

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Poultry_Carrying_Boxes.html

 

good luck

[alih]

I used an ordinary-sized cat carrier to bring home 2 fully-grown ex-bats who were fine in there but I couldn't have fitted more..

[kerrie]

I used a cat carrier to bring hom emy 3 girls who were about 18 weeks

[Daphne]

we use cardboard boxes filled with straw/aubiose depending on the gaps! They are free and disposable (particularly useful if you've been to the vet and there might be illness). We cut hand-sized oblongs at the top of 2 sides for carrying/ventilation. Given the weight, I would use 2 boxes for 5 hens.

[Ash]

Dont waste money on fancy boxes. A cardboard box with some holes punched in it is fine.

[wiblick]

Thanks all

 

my problem is that I'll be transporting 6 hens in one direction and then 6 (but a different combination) in the other... and then next year I want to be able to transport growers from my own incubations to their new homes...

 

I didn't want to dump the hens I'm collecting at B location in with the ones I've already collected at A location.... and it's a small enough car and cardboard boxes are so unwieldy and don't have handles.

 

Luckily I think I have the loan of 2 cat boxes, I'll just have to hope 4 hens can fit in the larger one...

[Hen Watch]

When I collected my 14wk old chook from the agent, I put her in an A4 photocopier paper box I got from work. Cut some holes for breathing. It fitted 1 hen nicely so she didn't slide about and with the lid on was nice and dark for her.

 

Now she is 2 years old she happily goes to the vet in a cat box but she's so big she fills the entire cat box up.

[Space Chick]

I had 2 cat carriers with 2 chickens in each. They came home fine and happy.

[TAJ]

I have always used cat carriers I have two large size (one of our old cats was huge). POL hybrids were two to a carrier, but my last three youngsters at 12-14 weeks only filled half of one carrier. So how many you can fit in will really depend on the size of the chooks, not just their age.

 

Tracy

[dancing cloud]

I have two large cat carriers and have transported three ex-batts in each with no problems. Gave them a thick lining of newspaper and shredded paper, and they survived even my two-wheels-round-the-corners driving!

[wiblick]

I shall examine the cat carriers when they are dropped off to me, and will bring a couple of cardboard boxes just in case.

 

Thanks everyone, this was very helpful.