What to Expect When You Pick Up Your Pullets
Pickup day is exciting — and a little nerve-wracking if it's your first time. This guide walks you through everything you need to know before you arrive, what happens when you get here, and how to set your new hens up for success when you get home.
Before You Arrive: What to Have Ready
A little preparation goes a long way. Before pickup day, make sure you have the following in place:
Your Coop
- Clean, dry, and bedded with fresh shavings or straw
- Roosting bars in place
- Nesting boxes set up (one box per 3–4 hens)
- Predator-proofed — check for gaps, loose hardware, and unsecured doors
- Waterer filled and in place
- Feeder stocked with layer feed
Your Transport Container
You'll need a secure, ventilated container to transport your pullets home. Good options include:
- A plastic dog crate or wire kennel with a solid bottom
- A cardboard box with ventilation holes cut in the sides (fine for short trips)
- A purpose-built poultry transport crate
Plan for roughly 1–2 square feet per bird in the transport container. Don't overcrowd — stressed birds in a tight space can injure each other.
Line the bottom with a thin layer of shavings or a rubber mat to give birds footing and absorb waste on the ride home.
Feed
Have layer feed ready at home. Our pullets are already transitioned to layer feed before pickup, so there's no adjustment period needed on your end.
On Pickup Day
When you arrive at Stafford Hill Farms, here's what to expect:
- We'll bring your pullets out and load them into your transport container
- We'll answer any last-minute questions you have about feed, housing, or care
- Birds are healthy, vaccinated, and at point-of-lay — ready to go to work
Pickup is typically quick. Plan for 15–20 minutes on-site.
📌 Heads up: Bring cash or confirm payment method in advance. If you have a long drive home, bring a small waterer or offer water at a rest stop for trips over 2 hours.
Getting Home: The First 24 Hours
The first day is the most important. Here's how to handle it:
Unloading
Move birds directly from the transport container into the coop. Don't let them free range immediately — they need to learn that the coop is home first.
Confine to the Coop for 3–7 Days
Keep your new pullets inside the coop (not the run) for the first few days. This teaches them where home is. Hens that are let out too soon may not return to roost at night and can become vulnerable to predators.
Watch for Normal Settling Behavior
It's normal for new hens to:
- Be quiet and huddle together the first day
- Eat and drink less than usual for 24–48 hours
- Explore cautiously before becoming more active
What's not normal: labored breathing, discharge from eyes or nostrils, or birds that won't stand. Contact us immediately if you see any of these signs.
Expect a Brief Laying Pause
Even point-of-lay pullets may take 1–2 weeks to begin laying after the stress of transport and a new environment. This is completely normal. Once they settle in, production will begin and quickly ramp up.
Integrating With an Existing Flock
If you're adding pullets to birds you already have, don't put them together immediately. Use a see-but-don't-touch approach for 1–2 weeks — a wire divider in the run works well. This reduces aggression when they're finally introduced. See our full guide: Transitioning New Pullets Into an Existing Flock →