[mojocafa]

I have managed to source some chickens I would like. The problem is they are in Nottinghamshire and I am east coast Scotland.

1 is it unfair to transport chickens that far?
2 are poultry couriers expensive?
3 can you take chickens on trains?... I can see replies with but I'm being serious
4 am I completely mad?

[bigchicken]

I have been in the same position and got the birds brought up by someone who was coming up for the Scottish National poultry show which is in a couple of weeks. I gave them a bit of money for there trouble. That's my advice.

[darkbrowneggs]

[size=78%]  [/size]



Thats by far the best idea


There are poultry couriers but they usually start at £80 for one drop.


 I once refused to sell a trio to someone on the scottish islands as I said the transport costs would not justify the purchase and she bought from someone I knew and the carriage charge was £600.  I know this for certain as I know the lady, the breeder and the courier involved.  Madness in my opinion   


Certainly, stock well looked after, can travel long distances as they regularly do in America


I would imagine you may be able to "take" chickens on trains, but I don't think you can "send" them in this country.


What about hatching eggs?

[mojocafa]

Well  I have become a bit OCD about getting this breed and whilst researching/googling, I came across an interesting website, which led me onto another website, and I recognised a name on this site of a taser so if
 I have the right person I have sent a pm about the possibility of getting hatching eggs, so 

But if anyone is coming up to Scotland for show or otherwise I would appreciate any help to transport a bird or 4

Cheers mojo

[Big Light]

What breed are you looking for mojo ?

[mojocafa]

Cochins

[fiestyredhead331]

not being funny but are you on facebook? there are loads of local farming free ads pages where you might be able to find cochins closer to home?.......there has to be some closer to you than Nottinghamshire 

[chrismahon]

Nottinghamshire to the East coast of Scotland isn't that far really. We moved ours from Nottinghamshire to Dordogneshire -750 miles in one go. The journey started at night when they had gone to roost and they were loaded into crates and put in the van. The van was fitted with a powered air extractor. All the windows were blacked out. They travelled for 21 hours and at the other end were immediately given chopped apple to rehydrate them. They went into the coops and awoke next morning as if nothing had happened.


I think the night time travelling is the important factor, which may rule out trains. I wouldn't trust anyone else to do the job for me.


As an aside, in Poland it is perfectly normal to post chickens through the mail. They put an apple in the box with the chicken to give it nourishment and fluids during what could be a 48 hour journey. I know of a cock driven to the Polish border from the UK then posted to the final destination (Poland is a big country). He arrived in fine condition. So that was 3 days in transit.

[mojocafa]

Feistyredhead,

There are cochins very close to me which I have got in the past, but as a novice , was a bit ignorant / naive   and I have since discovered that the ones I currently have are not a good example of the breed.
Last year I was in England picking up a goat and saw some advertised and picked up a three which both the seller and I thought were a trio but it turns out they were all cockerels. So am on the lookout again.
There is a someone in the highlands selling some so that may be an option as well.

Chris
OMG I couldn't imagine posting one

[darkbrowneggs]

If you are anywhere near here this lady has some of the best in the country I think.  She loves her stock and is always winning prizes


http://www.bunk-house.co.uk/

[Big Light]

Yeh Dorinda has won a few best of breed

[mojocafa]

Ahhhhhhh I recognise that name, I think my Russian orloffs came from her

[HesterF]

I drove down to Devon to pick up my latest pair of geese. It's maybe not quite as far but I think about 6 hours home with them. I had a big dog cage in the back so they had room to stand and sit, and could be in together and covered the outside with a sheet. I gave them food and water when I stopped for petrol (which they ignored but I got a few odd looks). They were absolutely fine. If you think about it, most people taking their stock to the national shows would travel quite a few hours. I'd have thought the train would be OK too if you have a big enough cage for them but you do risk them annoying others if they're noisy (which is where the sheet over the cage came in useful for the geese).

H

[mojocafa]

Cheers everyone, the taser I pm no longer has Cochins so that rules out his hatching eggs, will keep trying!
Have emailed dorinda as well .

[mojocafa]

Have had discussion with dorinda re Cochins 

And booked her bunk house 

So am going to have a holiday and pick up the chickens,   

Thank you for the link. Dbe