Update: My dad wants to put 10 chickens in the truck bed w/ a bed cover to travel 1.5 hrs

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/chickens/s/iU0rwrgS9P

My first ever Reddit post had a lot of helpful suggestions and I owe all the commenters thanks for the creative ideas about transporting chickens safely!

I ended up using large sized moving boxes from Walmart and cut air holes, and covered the bottom with wood shavings. Duct taped and strapped down enough to look like a Dexter episode. I pushed some tires against the boxes to avoid shifting during the 1.5 hrs on gravel. A lot of people were concerned about heat, but I picked them up at 7:30pm at a nice cool 53F (dropped to 41F once home). I pulled over twice to check and they were all cozied next to each other dozing.

I also wanted to answer some other questions.

1. “3 hours round trip is too far!” ➡️ I live in the RURAL Midwest. Normal sized grocery store is 1hr and 15 min/one way. I used to commute 1.5hrs (on a good day) to work. 80 miles for some chickens?? I’ve driven longer for good ice cream.

2. “Just get chickens from your neighbors” ➡️ originally what I planned to do! But they wanted $25-30/hen and I can’t justify that price. $5/hen AND I got to drive to some of the prettiest parts of my state at sunset…worth it.

3. “They’re livestock, it’s fine” ➡️ the comment was deleted, but: I have a B.S. in An. Sci and while I understand the idea of livestock differing from “pets” is pretty common/accepted, I think treating animals as well as we can is what they deserve at minimum. I TOTALLY understand using what you have to survive. My grandmother/one side of my family still live where they use oxen to plow fields. I get it. BUT, I have the means to justify taking the extra time to transport safely and comfortably…so I did. As a previous FFA officer and 4-H show kid, I sometimes spoil my animals and I’m okay with that😂

4. “Your dad should go in the back of the truck and the chickens in the cab” ➡️ you’re not wrong and I promise I said something similar and slightly stronger 😅

Thank you for everyone who gave me some awesome ideas!

Less than a day later and the girls are already scratching up the grass and knocking down the local insect population.