craftyhunnypie Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I have to ask this all important question, as hoping to move soon. We've got 35 chooks ( including cockerels) & would need to transport them from Cheshire to Aberystwyth way. Would it be best to shut then in eglus at night & put eglus in van, to transport them at night whilst sleeping? Not sure about how to do the ones in the cube or in hubby's shed. We can use sister's cattle trailer. Would I just use cardboard boxes, specialist crates or would I need a specialised courier? They are all coming with us, so don't even mention selling them! I just need to know & some help please. Thanks Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Personally I would put them into boxes or cat boxes, its quite a long way to Aberyswerth from Cheshire so they would need to be secure. A freind and i got new hens yesterday and we had cat carriers, the hens were put in three or four in a box so they couldn't flap around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trougher Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 We used cat carriers to collect our chickens, but you would need an awful lot for 35 chickens. Most people at the rescue centre when I was collecting my chickens were using cardboard boxes with holes cut in for ventilation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 But it's not just a few miles - it's more like 100 miles. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Personally i'd use cardboard boxes but make sure there are alot of holes. When i got my pekins and put them in a cat box they got all stressed and hide in the back crying till i covered it up more they were complete wimps though. If you use boxes they can't see out very well and will probably go to sleep particually if you take them down in the evening. Having said that if you have the ability to safely transport some of them in the eglus, bungi cording the door shut or something like that i would. It will give them a more stable ride. But if going in the eglus meant that they couldnt go down in the trailer and that they'd have to go down in the removal van then id go for boxing the lot. One of my rescues came to me in one of the office cardboard boxes that seem to be designed for documents with the seperate lid. It had two handles cut into it, a few holes added further down and the lid taped down that worked really well. A bit bigger but very similar to this one http://www.simply-boxes.co.uk/Boxes/Archive_Boxes_for_A4_Folders_a(1312).aspx She had spent about an hour and a half in the car and wasn't stressed or upset at all. Another came in a supermarket crisp packet box She was a dorking and her tail barely fitted in that. I had an awful job trying to find something she'd go in when she had to go to the vet. The only thing would be i wouldn't put more than two big ones and three little ones together. Too many in one box generates too much heat and it starts to get heavy to carry etc IMO you'd do better to have alot of little boxes than fewer big ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raina Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Hi, When i moved form Walsall to Anglesey (148 Miles) I used a normal Cat Carrier with a Rabbit water bottle attached so they could drink. If you can, Use either some Poultry Crates or one of those huge pet carriers you get at airports and attach a couple Water botles to the outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I would put them in dog crates or cat boxes and make sure they had access to water. I'm not sure how safe they would be in cardboard boxes, I think i would be afraid of them getting a bit battered, especially travelling such a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Can you move them at night, Craftyhunnypie? It might be better for them if they were in trance mode? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I think moving them in the evening would be sensible, after a day stuffing their little faces, so they should be quite comfortable in roost mode, especially now the evenings are getting darker. Is there a local BHWT your way? Could you borrow some of their transport crates for a donation? Other than that, I think it would be lots of cardboard boxes - it's only ten boxes if you put 3 or 4 to a box so should easily go in a van or trailer. The problem would be getting all the eglus and cubes set up and habitable at the other end. It would be a long day for you, but if you set off at tea time, the birds would be OK in their dark boxes until you had set everything up. Sounds very exciting - and all the effort will be worth it once you have your own place in the country! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 I'm thinking it best to do at night time - roosting mode etc. Cat carriers - I'm sure I could borrow a load & /or put the eglus in the trailer. The other end would involve either having coops organised for overnight or just off loading the eglu's from the trailer & attaching runs in the morning. It will all be worth it - but I'm sooo anxious! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I transported 4 Hybrids in two cardboard pet carriers from Yorkshire to NE Scotland. The journey took 7 hours due to roadworks, accidents and traffic volume. The Chickens were fine after their mega journey. I made extra air holes in the boxes and the breeder advised me to put in plenty of straw so the Chickens would have something for their claws to grip on to. Because the boxes were dark inside the chickens went into roost mode. When we moved house we set up one Eglu and run in the new garden. The Chickens all 9 of them stayed at the old house until they went into the other Eglu when it got dark. We then put the Eglu in the back of the removal hire van to transport them to the new house. All moved to the set up Eglu via the eggports. The run put on the travelling Eglu and then 4 of the Chickens put back into that Eglu. Good luck with the move Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodinparts Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Sorry. Unable to resist this. "How would you move 35 chickens?" "Carefully". Lots of sensible answers, so I don't feel too guilty. Hope that the move goes really well & that your new home is a joy for you and for your girls too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I transport chooks over 100 mles for shows, they are best in a cardboard box as they will slip in to roost mode Get highish boxes to allow for good airflow (the boxes sold at storage places are nice and sturdy) Cut slits high up for air, and put lots of bedding in the box for support When packing the boxes in a car or van try to make low spacers to keep the boxes apart for maximum airflow - rolled up towels are good Have the windows partly open in the vehicle - if its slightly too cold for you it will be perfect for the birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Crisp boxes are apparently ideal for 2 birds each,if you have a local little shop by you that could help out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
