OLR Shipping Guidelines: Preparing for Success

To improve your birds' chances of reaching the money races, we have compiled a list of essential shipping preparations. While these may seem like common sense, they are critical factors often overlooked.

Vaccines take time to build immunity and work best when the bird is not under stress. Our Avian Veterinarian suggests vaccinating well in advance of shipping. If you ship a bird immediately after vaccination, the added stress of transport may render the vaccine ineffective.

1. Age Matters (50–60 Days Old)

Based on the vaccination recommendations above, birds should be at least 50–60 days old before shipping. Research suggests a bird's immune system is weakest between weeks 6 and 9. Shipping during this vulnerability window introduces them to new hazards right when they are most fragile.

2. Avoid Overcrowding

Shipping is stressful. Adding an overcrowded, hot box to the equation is a recipe for disaster.

• Heat: Birds produce significant body heat; give them space to breathe.
• Shedding: High stress causes birds to shed pathogens (bad bacteria) into drinkers and feces.
• Susceptibility: Stress weakens the immune system, making birds more likely to catch illnesses from others in the truck.

3. Hydration

Ensure your birds are fully hydrated before boxing them up, especially during the summer months.

4. Proper Weaning

Ensure the bird has been weaned for a sufficient period before shipping. Weaning is already a stressful milestone; do not compound it by shipping them immediately.

5. Parasite Control (Worming)

External and internal parasites are a major issue for many lofts. Clean your birds before sending them out.

• Wormers to consider: Ivermectin or Moxidectin.
• Lice/Mites: Use Vet Schroeder Tollisan U200 (or similar) to eradicate lice and mites. This is generally used once per year.

Final Thought: When preparing your team, always ask yourself: "How can I limit the stress on this bird?" A low-stress bird is a healthy bird.