Solitary chicken - need advice

[christmas+grace]

I have bought a second hand Eglu with two 9 month old gingernut rangers from someone in Sevenoaks, and will drive over from Oxford this Sunday to collect them. Does anyone have any advice on transporting them safely, comfortably, etc.? Also should I provide some water? Any advice on settling them after the journey?

Edited July 8, 2009 by Guest

[Poultry in Motion]

As long as they have air, they should be fine. If you have a cat box, I found that to be ideal when I transported a couple recently. Otherwise a cardboard box with appropriate holes is fine. They don't need too much room, in fact I think they probably prefer (and it's probably safer) to be huddled together.

 

I shouldn't think they'd be interested in drinking, will probably be slightly bewildered by the car. The two I transported didn't make a peep for the whole journey (about an hour). On arrival, I opened the door and let them come out at their own pace. As long as you have food and water ready, I think that would be fine.

[atsw]

I agree 100% with Poultry in Motion. When we collected our two Orps from their breeder in Shropshire last year it was a 2 hour drive home. We left it till late in the day, and selected a cardboard box that was a snug fit for the two of them (to restrict movement during the journey). It was late and dark on arrival back in Oxfordshire, so we left them in the box overnight, letting them out at first light the next morning. They were both fine, and tucked in to the food and water we had ready for them. They both settled in to their new environment in no time.

 

Andrew

[quickcluck]

All good advice!

 

Should you use a cat carrier make sure that you make it as dark as possible as they will then go to sleep!

[Redwing]

The cardboard boxes that crisps come packed in are ideal, make air slits near the top of the box, Both hens will fit in one box. I got my boxes from a local petrol station

 

As Quickcluck says if you have to use a cat carrier make it as dark as poss, they are ok for short journeys but for a long journey you really need them to go in to 'roost mode' so something as dark as poss is great

[christmas+grace]

The cardboard boxes that crisps come packed in are ideal, make air slits near the top of the box, Both hens will fit in one box. I got my boxes from a local petrol station

 

As Quickcluck says if you have to use a cat carrier make it as dark as poss, they are ok for short journeys but for a long journey you really need them to go in to 'roost mode' so something as dark as poss is great

 

Thanks, for this help, Sue

[christmas+grace]

As long as they have air, they should be fine. If you have a cat box, I found that to be ideal when I transported a couple recently. Otherwise a cardboard box with appropriate holes is fine. They don't need too much room, in fact I think they probably prefer (and it's probably safer) to be huddled together.

 

I shouldn't think they'd be interested in drinking, will probably be slightly bewildered by the car. The two I transported didn't make a peep for the whole journey (about an hour). On arrival, I opened the door and let them come out at their own pace. As long as you have food and water ready, I think that would be fine.

 

Thanks, Sue

[Olly]

Another tip ... you may find that the smaller roosting bars from the Eglu fit inside the cat carrier, mine did anyway. That just makes it a little bit easier for them as they have something to grip.