wiblick Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 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.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrie Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I used a cat carrier to bring hom emy 3 girls who were about 18 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Dont waste money on fancy boxes. A cardboard box with some holes punched in it is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiblick Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 I had 2 cat carriers with 2 chickens in each. They came home fine and happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiblick Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
