Still can't decide on what chicken breed you would like? Check out this Guide to Chicken Breeds to give you a few more breeds to think about. Its chicken porn to the rest of us. Enjoy!
 My personal favourite is the Dog Cage Pet Carrier. There is not only room to move, but they receive adequate air flow from the car's air conditioner, the food and water source can be easily attached and topped up. I can also keep an eye on them during the journey for peace of mind. Use the seat belt to secure the cage as much as possible. I always place a non-slip mat on the removable bottom floor as I found the hens slide too much during car trips, which makes for a lot of flapping and water spills. You can pick up cheap non-stick mats from many cheap stores for only a dollar or two. They are easy to wash down at pit stops to control the odour. These cages are foldable to store flat when not in use and have multiple doors.  If you decide to bring home some new chickens, move house or sell your poultry you will need to consider carefully the right form of caging for you for transport. You will want to do it as calmly and humanely as possible for a stress free drive. Your distance will determine which form of caging you will need. Short trips do not require food or water. But when a longer trip is involved there are a few more considerations to your poultry's comfort as well as your own. Top 4 considerations for transporting poultry:
Distance If you are planning on an interstate trip its recommended that you have regular stops as you would normally for any other pet to get out of the car for fresh air. Bringing portable pet fencing or a pop-up pet tent is a great way to allow poultry to have a little stretch and peck time. Provide fresh food and water and clean out any mess so that your journey is more bearable. Just remember that when you reach your destination not to over stimulate the poultry, but just let them slowly adjust to their new surroundings. So as tempting as petting new poultry is, leave it for a day if possible to minimise stress. Handling of Poultry Its very important to remember the comfort and safety of your poultry. Do Not:
Which Type of Box? Whether its a pet carrier, cage or a simple cardboard box, they can all be modified to accommodate your hens.
 Standard Pet Carrier (Cat Cage) If you are transporting only a couple of chickens as a time, then cat carriers are excellent to use. The hens have access to adequate air flow from the car's air conditioning system as well as a view out. Secure with seat belt. Depending on the brand and door type on the carrier will determine if you can attach any water devices. Opt for a steel cage door rather than plastic for this reason. Even better, purchase a cage with its own attachments for ease of use. Again, I recommend the non-slip mat at the bottom of this type of cage so that the hens do not slip around during travel. Towels or old rags are fine to use too, but if you are on a long journey, they will not dry out quick enough if you need to clean them off during a pit stop. 
Buying from Interstate...and its tooooooo far to travel! There is a solution to this old chestnut and its AniTrans; a pet delivery service that transports animals under 20kg throughout the Australian eastern states and through to South Australia.  |
AuthorYou can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl. As an ex-Barossa gal now living in suburban Adelaide, South Australia, Janine Zschech is not only a serious chicken lady but a genuine advocate for self-sufficiency and education of children to the knowledge of gardening and animal rearing. Skills for life! 
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