One of the supplies you’d need as a backyard chicken keeper is a chicken crate. Chicken crates are especially necessary when you need to carry your poultry birds to the butchers or if you keep show hens and need to carry them to and from these events.
Let us consider the features to look for when buying chicken crates followed by honest chicken crate reviews.
Chicken crates for transport – features to look for
Size
When it comes to the size or the capacity of the crate, bigger is usually better. Always consider your birds’ size, especially their height while selecting the crate.
Bantam chickens are smaller than most hen species so they usually easily fit inside standard chicken crates. But, if you also want to use the crates to transport pheasants, ducks, turkeys, or other poultry birds, then you’d need larger crates.
Always make sure that your birds can comfortably stand inside the crates. Most chicken crates measure 30’ L x 22’ W x12’ H and these are adequately roomy to carry 8-10 bantams. However, the height may not be comfortable for taller or larger birds.
Ease of assembly
Most crates come stacked and you need to assemble them yourself. It is very important to assemble them properly right from the start since the process is irreversible and you cannot disassemble a crate once you have set it up. Select a chicken crate that comes with clear instructions or buy pre-assembled crates to ease your job.
Door placement
Another feature to look out for in a chicken crate is the door placement. Most chicken crates come with a top sliding door and you have to squeeze your birds’ bodies in through the opening. That may be painful for the birds. Look for crates with a side door that swings instead of slides open. This is much more comfortable for the birds.
Ease of carrying
Chicken crates should have side handles that make it easier for you to carry the crate. The crates should also be lightweight yet sturdy; they should not add to the weight of the birds and yet should be made of durable, long-lasting material.
Easy to clean
Hygiene is of utmost importance when it comes to chicken transportation crates. The crates should be easy to clean. Most crates come with bottom-holes that allow birds’ droppings to fall off.
These holes also allow the water to drain off easily when you wash them. Remember: you must wash the crates from time to time otherwise bacteria and mites can cause a massive infestation in your flock.
Now that you know what features to look for in chicken crates, here are the best ones available in the market.
Best Chicken Crates to Buy
RentACoop Poultry Carrier Crate
RentACoop poultry products are well-designed and their chicken crates ascertain this for a fact. They come with a top door that helps you easily slide the birds in and out. The crates also have side handles that allow you to carry them with ease.
Pros
- Dimensions are 30’ L x 22’ W x12’ H and they easily fit 8-10 bantams.
- You can easily stack the crates one on top of the other and they fit inside each other well. This way, there is no sliding or slipping.
- Easy to assemble and carry and also to fit the birds in.
- Sturdy yet lightweight
- Value for money
Cons
- Does not hold as many birds as the crates claim to.
Rite Farm Products Poultry Transport Coop Basket Show Cage and Chicken Crate
As a chicken keeper, there are a number of reasons why you need to invest in strong and sturdy crates. If you show your hens, then you need a good quality show cage.
Rite Farm Poultry Transport basket or chicken crate is washable, durable, and also one of the top-selling chicken crates/show cages in the market.
Pros
- Heavy duty, heavy gauge, washable chicken crate that has a convenient top door
- You can also easily add a name tag on the crate
- One of the best-selling crates with reasonable rates
- Can easily and comfortably fit 6-7 Cornish hens/10 broilers/2 adult ducks/fully-grown mallards/and adult pheasants – although the opening size may be small for some birds.
- You can easily stack about 6 crates
- Easy to assemble and carry
Cons
- Door on top does not slide easily (this may vary from crate to crate)
- It is difficult to get larger birds in and out owing to the small opening.
- Cannot be disassembled as assembly is permanent
Poultry Transportation Coop by FarmTek
This is a single-compartment crate that can easily transport up to 14 standard-sized chickens. It has an ergonomically designed opening at the bottom and single door on the top. Dimensions are 22.5’ x 38.5’ x 10.75’.
Pros
- Made with high-density, polyethylene plastic.
- Birds cannot escape during transport owing to tight lid.
- Durable and sturdy
- Can also be used for transporting fish.
Cons
- Height of the crate may be less for some species of birds
- You might need a flat bar to prise the lid open and also a hammer to lock the pieces together.
Premier 1 Supplies Premier Poultry Carrier Crate
One of the best features of Premier Poultry carrier crates is that it also has a side-door in addition to the top door, – feature which most chicken crates lack.
Pros
- The crate measures 30’ L x 22’ W x 11.5’ H after assembly. It can comfortably hold 12 normal-sized hens
- Premier poultry chicken carrier crate is made with heavy duty plastic
- The bottom holes are large enough to allow droppings to fall off; their size also makes them easy to wash and clean.
- Roomy and sturdy crate
- Can be stacked for transport and storage.
Cons
- There are no assembly instructions. If you put up the crate wrong, there is no way to disassemble it.
- Expensive.
Kerbl Poultry Transport Box
Kerbl poultry transport crate is made with sturdy, break-proof plastic. It has a side door and a sliding top door and comes in attractive maroon color.
Pros
- Dimensions are 95 cm L x 57 cm W x 24cm H
- Easy to clean
- Sturdy and durable; easy to transport several chickens or poultry birds
Cons
- No assembly instructions are provided. Snapping the box incorrectly could render the crate unusable.
Premier 1 Supplies Quail Transport Crate
Dimensions of the crate are 26’L x 16’W x 5’ H – you can easily transport quails and baby chicks. The crate comes with a solid bottom which makes it safer for the birds; no more injuries to the birds’ feet from sticking them out of the holes.
Pros
- Crate comes pre-assembled; so no guesswork or the possibility of going wrong while assembling
- Easy to use, assemble, and transport. Super easy to clean. Limits manure-build-up, easy to rinse out.
- Safer for the birds; no more injured feet from accidentally sticking out the floor-holes
- Convenient to transport quails and new-born poultry
- Durable
- Value for money
Cons
- None
Conclusion
Chicken transportation cages (simply known as chicken crates) are useful coop supplies that allow you to comfortably transport several poultry birds from one place to another. They are especially useful for chicken keepers to show their birds from time to time.
We hope the above chicken crate reviews help you select the best one for your needs.