shipping chicks help!

i have 80 chicks that are to be hatching this weekend, they have started already, they have a long trip to newfoundland ahead of them, i am trying to find a pet approved carrier to ship them in, but dont know the size i will need??? help! i should probably divide them as well so they dont pile and suffocate each other... i would build a box like ty does but i dont want it to get rejected at the airline!? should i buy two small carriers aand divide them in half?> f so what size carrier should 40 chicks need? LOl

I would talk to the air line and see what they say about the boxes Ty uses. I think you need something with a short top to it so they can conserve heat. The idea of the chick boxes is to keep chicks close but not over crowded, and short to keep the heat in.
If they are hatching already then they are not going to have their reserve left in there for travel so you are going to have to make up some food for them for the trip. I use grow gel but you had mentioned in the last post you didnt like it because they step all over it, but what if you put it in a tray of sorts?
Have you looked at the pet stores? They had some cat crates once that were a box, not a typical pet carrier, that might work better for the chicks.
Or another idea is to put a cardboard chick box with the chicks inside a larger kennel that the airline approves?
I have only shipped once by air and it was 6 week old birds so the issues of warmth and food was not as major.

I thought that sounded like a good idea too....put a chick shipping box (or maybe two stacked) into an approved airline kennel.
Rochester sells the small 50 size ones I think as well as the larger 100 ones.
Two 50 size might do the trick and then use those roll up nest pad/staw things as well if you don't fill your compartments.

I am going to phone westjet, see what rules are but I looked at Ty"s they look decent to build maybe I will get hubby to build me one. How big are the 50 chick boxes ? So I have a ruff idea..

Unfortunatly I couldn't work it out for them all to hatch to be just hatched for reserves for flight. Sucks. But I will put superbooster in a cup with sponge for them to peck at and also food containers... Theats the best I can do, also apple slices...and heat packs.

triplejfarms wrote:I am going to phone westjet, see what rules are but I looked at Ty"s they look decent to build maybe I will get hubby to build me one. How big are the 50 chick boxes ? So I have a ruff idea..

The ones I have are 18 x 12 x 6 inches high and have two compartments.

and that fits 50?

Thats the size hatcheries ship 50 chicks in...25 each side, if they are bantams or the compartments are half full they often roll up those straw mats against the sides to fill and insulate....I think the thinking is if they just fit they wont move around too much and of course helps to keep warm?

great thanks!!

I have generally kept the boxes my chicks come in. I tuck them away safely for the day that I might need them. I have also saved boxes from maderin oranges.

If they want animal crates then go to walmart for the cheapest small crates available. I would put in a load of sraw bedding, maybe scree onver the doors and windows with screening or cheese cloth in order to keep drafts to a minimum.