How To Transport Day Old Chick

Transporting the Day Old Chicks
After sourcing for the chicks, the farmer has to look for means of transporting the chicks to his/her farm. Transportation of day old chick from hatchery to farm site has to be done in the proper way to reduce or eliminate mortality during transits. Day old chicks are very tender and must be handle with care. That’s why you will hear some farmers calling them babies.
Transportation of day old chicks is usually done by parking the chicks in perforated carton of 50 chicks per carton with extra 1-2 chicks added to compensate in case of any mortality. Remember that the carton to be used must be perforated to prevent the chicks from suffocation. After the proper packaging of your day old chicks, it will be time to transport them down to your farm which you must have prepared to receive the chicks. More light on preparation of your farm for reception of day old chicks in the next topic.

The day old chicks are usually transported in a well aerated vehicle which is the ideal for this purpose. This is done with closer supervision of the chicks and the timing must be right. You may say what timing? Yes you don’t just transport your chick any time. You will have to transport them when the weather is friendly for them. Not in hot sun. The practice is usually very early in the morning or evening time when the sun must have set. Part of what you should also consider also include the post transportation care that has to be giving to your day old chicks. Usually mortality during transits should not be more the 0-02% of the whole stocks. This figure may vary because numbers of mortality during transportation is also a reflection of the quality of the chicks.

Below are the precautions you must observe during transportation of day old chicks
Any close vehicle such as car, buses etc. are not ideal for transportation of day old chick. Use a vehicle that has free air circulation- a well aerated vehicle is the ideal
Avoid the use of trucks as this will cause excessive stress and high mortality to the day old chicks
Just has been said earlier, transport the chicks during favorable whether i.e. when the weather is cold. Either early in the morning or late in the evening. Over the years’ experience had shown that day old chicks should not arrive farm between 12 noon and 4 pm.
During the transportation of the chicks, go straight to the farm. Avoid unnecessary stop over on the way while transporting during the day.
Look for the shortest route to the farm and a good road to your farm site.


If you do a proper transportation by observing the points above, you will be able to reduce mortality to the barest minimum. Otherwise’ if you allow your day old chicks to undergo excessive stress, the opposite is the effect
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