Short answer: To transport live birds to market in Ghana without losing weight or birds, load early in the cool hours, use clean ventilated crates with room for every bird, keep the crates out of the sun, and check the birds at every stop. Heat and crowding cause most of the losses, and a single lost bird at the live broiler price on our list is about GH₵110. Count the birds at the gate and again at the buyer, and write both numbers down.
Key takeaways
- Load early and leave before the sun is strong, because heat causes most market losses.
- Give every bird room to sit down, and never mix different sizes or types in one crate.
- Keep water in the birds and the crates out of the sun, including while the vehicle is delayed.
- Check birds at every stop and unload injured or weak birds into shade before you sell.
- Count the birds at loading and again at the buyer, and keep the record for the trip.
The road is not the hard part. The hours either side are
Most farmers think the market is where they lose birds. It is usually the three hours before the van leaves and the two hours it spends in the sun at the other end. Timing the sale itself is covered in our piece on when to sell broilers, and it is worth reading before you book the vehicle. The road itself is often the easy part, provided the birds were loaded calmly and the crate was ready.
This article covers live birds going to market or to a buyer: broilers near weight, spent layers, cockerels and the smaller birds like guinea fowl. It is a different job from moving day-old chicks, which need their own care, and our article on how to transport day-old chicks safely covers that. The points below are about adult birds that are heavy, hot and already carrying the stress of being caught.
What a bad trip actually costs
Put the cost on paper before you load, because the number changes how seriously you take the crate. Take a run of 40 broilers at around 2.5 kg each. At the live broiler price on our current list, about GH₵110 for a bird of that size, the load is worth GH₵4,400 before anything goes wrong.
Now lose two birds in the crate on a hot afternoon. That is GH₵220 gone, and it is the easy part to count. Add a bird that arrives bruised and cannot be sold at full weight, and a bird that goes down at the gate and cannot be moved, and you are looking at a bad morning costing more than the fuel, the crate hire and the driver's day put together. A single extra kilo lost to stress and hunger, spread over 40 birds, is a real sum too, and it does not show up on any receipt.
The sums are the reason we tell farmers to treat the crate and the timing as part of the sale, not as an afterthought. The bird is the product. A tired, hot bird is a cheaper one, and the buyer knows it when they lift her.
Load by load: what each type of bird needs
Different birds travel differently. A heavy broiler and a light cockerel have different needs in the same crate, and a spent layer that has been in lay for a year is a different animal from either. The table is a starting point for planning the load, and you should adjust it for your own route, your own vehicle and the weather that week.
| Birds | Main risk on the road | Best time to leave | Check before the vehicle moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broilers near 2.5 kg | Heat, crushing and heat stress from heavy bodies | Early morning, before the sun is high | Every bird can sit down, the crate is shaded and the vents are clear |
| Spent layers | Bruising, feather loss and dehydration after a long period in a house | Cool hours, early morning | Crates are lined and birds are not packed tight enough to pile up |
| White cockerels | Fighting in the crate, which bruises the bird and raises stress | Early, with birds kept apart if they have been fighting | Birds of similar size are kept together, with no bullies in the same crate |
| Guinea fowl and smaller birds | Flapping, injuries to the head and wings, overheating in a small crate | Cool hours, with minimal time in the crate | Crates have soft, safe lining and no sharp edges or gaps |
| Turkeys (heavy birds) | Leg and wing injury when lifted and carried | Early, on a cool day | Handlers are trained, and the crate is large enough to stand and turn |
Spent hens are a special case, and our article on what to do with old hens looks at whether to sell them live, dress them or cull them. The common error is putting different types or sizes of bird in the same crate to save a trip. A light bird ends up under a heavy one, and the damage is done before the road has even begun.
Feed and water before the road
Water is not optional. A bird that has been without it for hours in the heat is in trouble before the crate is shut. Make sure the birds have drunk well in the hour or two before loading, and carry clean water for the trip if the journey is more than a short hop.
Feed is a more debated question. Many farmers hold back feed for a short time before loading, so the crop is less full and the birds are less likely to soil themselves and the crate on the road. That practice is reasonable for a short window, but it is not something to stretch. Ask your vet how long to hold back feed for your birds, your route and the heat of the day, and never leave birds without water while you hold back their feed. A bird that is hungry and thirsty at the market is a bird that loses weight fast.
Write the times down. The feed hold, the water hour and the loading time are the three numbers the buyer will ask about if the birds arrive weak.
Heat is the enemy in the crate
In most of Ghana the danger is the middle of the day, when the sun is high and the air inside a closed van can become hotter than the outside. Birds that are packed in a crate in the sun pant, open their beaks and stop eating within minutes. A broiler that has been overheated can die in the crate, and one that survives can arrive with a weight loss that the buyer will notice.
Plan the trip around the heat. Load in the early morning, leave before the sun is strong, and aim to be at the market before the midday rise. If the journey is long enough to run into the afternoon, keep the crates in shade where you can and keep the vehicle moving so the air moves through the crates. Our article on heat stress in broilers sets out the signs to look for, and they start earlier than most farmers expect.
Rain brings the opposite problem. A bird that is soaked on an open truck can chill quickly, and wet feathers reduce the bird's ability to keep warm. Cover the crates with something that keeps the rain off without shutting the air out, and never wrap a crate so tightly that the birds cannot breathe.
Crates, vehicle and the floor under the crate
A good crate is strong enough to stack, ventilated on at least two sides and clean enough to use again without a wash that takes all morning. Check for splinters, nails, wire ends and gaps where a leg or a head can slip through. Raise the crates off the floor of the vehicle so the air can reach the bottom of the load, and keep the lids or doors closed but not sealed.
Give every bird room to sit down. This is the rule most often broken, because farmers want to fill the vehicle. A crowded crate means birds that cannot move away from the heat, birds that get crushed under others, and birds that come out of the crate with bruises that were not there when they went in. Count the birds per crate before you load, and do not go over.
The vehicle should be clean, covered and tied down. A crate that slides in a bend can break a wing, and a vehicle that has carried feed or dirty litter before may carry disease in its floor. Sweep it out and disinfect it before each trip, and keep the crates for live birds separate from the crates used for feed or for dead birds.
Loading without breaking anything
Loading is where the bird's trip really begins. Two people work best: one catches and passes, the other receives and places the bird in the crate. Carry each bird close to the body with its wings folded, as you would for any handling job, and put her in the crate head first where possible, with her body level. Do not throw birds in, and do not drop a crate onto the vehicle floor from a height.
Load the heaviest crates closest to the floor and the front of the vehicle, so the load sits low and does not shift on the road. Keep the lighter crates above and at the back. Lift each crate level, not at an angle, so the birds inside do not slide to one end. Handle each bird as described in our guide to catching and handling chickens, because the same grip that keeps a bird calm in the yard keeps her calm in the crate. A heavy crate tipped sideways is a crate of injured birds.
Count each crate as it goes on, write the number down, and keep the count with the driver. The count is the first thing that gets checked at the market, and it should match the number you sold.
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On the road: stops, checks and delays
Check the birds at every stop, and at any delay longer than a few minutes. Look for birds that are panting hard, lying flat, pushing against the others or sitting with their heads down. Lift the crate lid if you can, and take a look at the air inside. A crate that smells hot or wet needs attention before the vehicle moves on.
Delays are the real risk. A checkpoint, a broken-down lorry or a traffic jam with the engine off can leave a load of birds in the sun for an hour. Ask the driver to keep moving when they can, to keep the vehicle in shade when they stop, and to keep the crates off the floor while they wait. If the delay is going to be long, unload the crates into shade and water the birds, rather than letting them cook where they are.
Keep a note on the trip: the time you left, the stops, the time you arrived, and any birds you found down. A record of the trip is the only honest answer to the question of where the losses came from.
At the market, in the last hours
The last part of the trip is the one most farmers rush, and it is the one where the buyer forms their opinion. Unload into shade, not into the sun, and lay the crates so the birds can get air. Offer water straight away, in shallow containers the birds can reach without climbing. Pull out any bird that is down, bleeding or obviously unwell, and do not put her on display with the healthy ones.
Sell quickly, and do not leave the crates sitting in the sun while you wait for a better price. Birds that are not sold by the end of the day should go home in the cool, not be left in the crate overnight. Tell the buyer about any bird that is weak or injured before you sell her, so there are no surprises when the bird is weighed. A buyer who trusts you will come back. A buyer who finds a dead bird in the crate after they have paid will not. If you are thinking of selling dressed birds instead, our guides on dressing and selling chicken in Ghana and how to sell poultry cover the hygiene, packaging and buyers.
Biosecurity on the way out and the way back
Crates and vehicles carry disease as easily as they carry birds. Do not mix crates from different farms in the same load, and do not carry birds from a farm that has disease problems in a vehicle that will then carry your own birds. Clean the crates after each trip, before they go back into the house, and disinfect the vehicle floor where the crates sat.
Never bring birds back to the farm from a market, and never add birds you bought at the market to your own flock without quarantine. Our article on biosecurity on a poultry farm sets out the routine for vehicles, visitors and footbaths. If any bird on the trip looked sick, handle her as described in our sick chicken guide and speak to your vet before the next load. A bird that goes down on the road and cannot recover needs the decision described in our guide to humane culling, not a longer journey.
A checklist for every market trip
Read this on the morning of the load, and tick it off as you go.
- Birds have drunk water in the hour or two before loading, and the feed hold, if any, follows your vet's advice.
- Crates are clean, strong, ventilated and free of sharp edges, with room for every bird to sit down.
- Birds of similar size and type share a crate, and no bullies are mixed in with the weak.
- The vehicle is clean, covered, tied down and disinfected, and the floor is raised for air.
- Loading starts early, in the cool hours, and the crates are lifted level and placed carefully.
- Birds are counted into each crate, and the count is written down and kept with the driver.
- Water and shade are planned for every stop, and the crates stay out of the sun while the vehicle waits.
- Injured or sick birds are left at home or separated, and the buyer is told about any weak bird.
- At the market, birds are unloaded into shade, watered and sold quickly, and unsold birds go home in the cool.
- The crates and vehicle are cleaned before the next load, and no birds come back to the farm.
If you are planning a larger sale, or want to set up a regular route, message us on WhatsApp at +233 24 915 1503. We are happy to talk through the numbers, and you can also place a chick order through our order form when the next cycle is ready.
Questions farmers ask
How long can live broilers travel in Ghana?
The honest answer is as short as your route allows, and the shorter the better. The longer the trip, the more weight the birds lose and the more chance of heat stress, crushing and dehydration. Plan the journey around the cool hours and build in shade and water for any delay. If the market is a long way off, ask your buyer whether a closer collection point is possible.
Should I hold back feed before the trip?
A short hold can reduce soiling in the crate, but it is not something to stretch. Ask your vet how long to hold feed for your birds, your route and the heat of the day, and never hold back water while you hold back feed. A hungry, thirsty bird loses weight quickly on the road.
Can I carry birds in a sack?
No. A sack does not allow air to reach the birds, it traps heat, and birds in a sack can suffocate or be crushed. Use crates that are ventilated on at least two sides, with room for every bird to sit down, and keep them out of the sun.
What if it rains on the way to market?
Cover the crates with something that keeps the rain off without shutting the air out. A wet bird on an open truck can chill quickly, and wet feathers reduce her ability to keep warm. Stop in shelter if the rain is heavy, and check the birds before you carry on.
Who pays for birds that die on the way?
Agree that before you load, in writing or by a clear message, so there is no argument at the market. The agreement should say who bears the loss for birds that die in transit and how the count will be checked. A farmer who has the count written down at the gate is in a much stronger position than one who is relying on memory.
What should I do with a weak bird at the market?
Unload her into shade, give her water, and separate her from the healthy birds. Tell the buyer about her before the sale, so the price and the expectation are clear. If she is sick rather than tired, call your vet, and do not sell her into the food chain without advice.
Do I need to clean the crates after every trip?
Yes. Crates carry dirt, droppings and any disease from the last load, and they should be cleaned and dried before they go back into the house. Keep the crates for live birds separate from the crates used for feed or dead birds, so one does not contaminate the other.
