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

[jess1merlin]

I am picking up my new chickens later this week and wondered if I should take some sort of carrier or if the breeder would normally provide these. I don't have a cat so have no cat carrier. Would I need to buy a couple of pet carriers or could I manage with cardboard boxes for the journey home which will take about 1/2 hour. I have contact my vet and they have cardboard carriers for £5 each approx. which seems a lot for a cardboard box really and I think I will need 2.

[tom123]

How many hens are you getting???

 

Tom

[jess1merlin]

Hi Tom

 

Only 4

[vikpow]

when i went to collect my 3 girls i used a cat carrier - a cardboard box should be ok tho as long as it is secure and has ventilation holes. How many girls are you getting? Excited?

[tom123]

I have a pet carrier you could borrow if you needed it. It would probably hold 4 POL hens at a push but if you could get a cardboard box as well then you'll be fine

 

Where exactly in glos are you?

 

Tom

[abwsco]

Cardboard boxes will be fine with some ventilation holes cut in

[jess1merlin]

Hi tom

 

Thats really kind of you but if they are ok in secure cardboard boxes I can get some from work and put ventilation holes in them.

I am in Cheltenham by the way and the girls are coming from the Poultry Park near Newent.

Getting very excited now!!!!

[tom123]

OK, what girls are you getting??? Poultry Park is fantastic isn't it?!

 

REMEMBER the pictures

 

Good Luck

Tom

[Space Chick]

I would say its worth getting a pet carrier, always handy for vets visits, emergency accommodation, additional nest box etc etc.

 

You can pick them up for about 12 quid in Argos/Wilkinsons.

 

When I picked up my Ex Batts on the weekend, I had the same carrier as had been used in the rescue, they had 5 girls in them, I was rescuing 3.

 

They are now using it, with roosting bars, as their temporary accommodation in my WIR until they can be integrated with the other girls.

[jess1merlin]

We are going to get ISA Browns I think. We have never had chickens before and so we went to have a look around at the weekend and although some of the other hybrids were really nice the ISA Browns seemed more friendly somehow.

The cube is being delivered on wednesday and I think I have got everything else I will need for them.

Getting very excited now!!

[Space Chick]

They are very friendly girls, congratulations

[chick wiggle]

Thats so exciting, congratulations, dont forget the pictures!

BTW I used cardboard boxes, they're fine.

[Redwing]

Cardboard boxes are fine, the sort that crisps come packed in are a good size for two chickens

 

Long narrow slots are good for ventilation, make them near the top - about two inches down and the slot about an inch wide as otherwise the hens stick their heads out of them

 

I agree with Debs that a cheapo cat carrier is a good investment, I have four and they get used all the time

[Cooks]

I bought a cat carrier at a carboot for about £3/4 so you should keep your eyes open there, like others have said it's always handy to have one. I used the crisp box type box to collect my first two girls with no problems.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

How exciting . I picked up 2 new girls last Saturday so I know how it feels .

 

I used our Council recycling box which has a plastic cover & some holes for ventilation. I filled it with shredded paper and they were quite comfy .

 

Keep us posted .

[mocha]

I use a dog crate when I collect new hens. Just thought I would add that idea in case you have a dog crate lying around and hadn't thought of it