Moving Poultry Farm Equipment Between Cities: Cages, Feeders and Drinkers

The old farm has been sold, and a new pen is waiting in another state. The birds have gone, the pens are empty, and now there are dozens of cages, rows of feeders, plastic drinkers and a small incubator that all have to travel a few hundred kilometres without bending, breaking or smelling.

This guide covers the equipment only. It does not cover live birds, which need a different kind of transport and different advice. Here we deal with metal, plastic and wire.

Clean first, then pack

Equipment that left a pen yesterday will smell and attract flies on the road. Empty every feeder and drinker, scrub them with water and a suitable disinfectant, and let them dry in the sun. Follow the manufacturer's guidance for any cleaning product.

Clean cages the same way. Remove old droppings, bedding and feathers, and brush out the corners. A clean load is easier on the driver, the truck bed and whoever offloads at the other end.

Taking cages apart

Battery cages are bulky and mostly air. If your cages can be dismantled, take them apart, and bundle the panels, doors and trays with wire or strapping. Flat bundles are much easier to stack than assembled cages.

1. Photograph each cage before you take it apart.
2. Mark every panel with paint or tape: block number, row, tier.
3. Bag the clips, bolts and springs by block and tie the bag to its bundle.
4. Keep the door latches together, as they are the first thing people lose.

If cages cannot be dismantled, nest them where the design allows, and strap each stack to the truck.

Feeders, drinkers and small plastic items

Plastic drinkers crack when heavy things sit on top. Stack them in sacks or crates, and keep them on top of the load, not underneath. Nipple lines, pipes and pressure regulators should be coiled, taped and boxed separately, with a label saying which house they belong to.

Hanging feeders can be nested, but check that the nested stack will not slide. Tie each stack with rope.

Incubators, brooders and electrical items

An incubator is the most delicate item on the truck. Empty the water tray, unplug it, and tape the doors shut. Wrap it in blankets or foam and strap it upright, away from the wheel arch. Ask the driver to avoid sitting it beside heavy metal that can shift.

Brooder lamps, thermostats and controllers should travel in padded boxes. Our guide on moving stabilisers, UPS units and power backup equipment has useful ideas for electrical gear.

Loading and securing for a long trip

On a long highway trip, small gaps in the load become big movements. Load the heaviest items first, such as metal cages and water tanks, low and against the cab wall. Then stack bundles tightly, then plastic, then boxes. Fill gaps with sacks or folded cloth.

Strap the load in several places and cover it with a tarpaulin. Wire panels shift and rattle, so use blankets or cardboard where metal touches metal. Our post on preparing a household load for a long highway trip applies to farm gear too.

Before the truck arrives at the new farm

Clear a flat, dry spot near the new pen. Ask who will receive the load, and make sure there are enough hands. Count bundles against your list at offloading, and carry the small bags with the fittings into the pen first, before the panels. If you are also moving feed and sacks, see our guide to relocating an animal feed and agro-input store.

How to do this on Sphere

Open the Sphere app and choose a truck for a full farm of equipment, or a pickup van for a small setup. Add the pickup and drop-off in the two cities, and describe the load: "40 cage panels in bundles, 120 drinkers in sacks, 60 feeders, 1 incubator, 2 water tanks". Mention that the equipment is clean. Propose a price, and nearby verified drivers accept or send counter-offers. Agree loading and offloading help with the driver before you accept an offer.

For the route side, read Lagos to Ibadan: planning a same-day truck trip, and see truck hire in Lagos and Ibadan.