Exporting Chickens

chrismahon said:
Thanks Philcott. I wouldn't bother with dividers but can't be sure what will happen at customs. If they open the van and shine a torch the chickens may wake and go crazy. Same if we break down or something.

rches.
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Have you ever had a dream where the Customs insist they totally unpack the trailer in case there's a lot of illegal immigrants hiding in there, Chris?
 
Marigold said:
chrismahon said:
Thanks Philcott. I wouldn't bother with dividers but can't be sure what will happen at customs. If they open the van and shine a torch the chickens may wake and go crazy. Same if we break down or something.

rches.
Click to expand...

Have you ever had a dream where the Customs insist they totally unpack the trailer in case there's a lot of illegal immigrants hiding in there, Chris?
Click to expand...

Me for one! :D :D
 
The real nightmare is when Customs take everything apart to check for drugs, then leave you to reassemble it all - but I think that was mainly on entering the UK not leaving!!
 
It will take two days to unpack and re-pack the trailer, so we would be camping in their inspection bay with 28 rather annoyed and messy chickens. Quite amusing don't you think? Sounds like a subject for a newspaper cartoon.
 
I suggested some months ago that the whole year-long expedition would make a wonderful Channel Four documentary, Wonderland series perhaps. You might even have made enough to cover costs, Chris.
 
So the vet rang me today to advise he had the results. He was a bit shocked when the opened the attachment and saw 4 positive results for Salmonella-pullorum and Salmonella-gallorum! He immediately panicked at the thought of having to tell me they can't go. 1A6 and 1A7, Ollie and Charity, Buff Orpingtons. 2C3 and 2C4, Poppy and Daisy, Brown Leghorn Bantams.

Reading further he was pleased to discover that the RSA test is known to throw up false positives. But it's a very cheap test used to save cost. For positives on that test they then re-test with the far more expensive SAT test. They were all negative. So we are good to go.

What has been overlooked now is that the vet doesn't make the application for export to DEFRA Carlisle, I must. The results don't go to them, they expect the vet to keep them and copy me with his paperwork on the day of departure. So that's a job for tonight. Because we have to flocks, one of 11 and one of 17, I need to fill the four page forms in twice. Then scan and email.

Ferry booked. P & O the cheapest at nearly £200 as we have to go 'freight'. Taking the coops over in advance is nearly £400! Problem is the size of the vehicle -9' high and 35' long. Still, we wouldn't go without our 'babies' so that's it.

Still won't know if an outbreak of Avian Flu or Newcastle means the Country is locked-down for Poultry Exports until the day of departure.

Finished the last coop parts, just needs assembly. All the run frameworks completed, just need the wire on and the plastic on the roofs. May have time for some packing before we go! It's going to be very tight for time indeed.
 
Are you an overnight crossing Chris and have you booked a cabin? On the old Felixstowe/Zeebrugge overnight the truckers cabins were vastly superior to those for Joe Public. If you have booked a cabin make sure you get the decent one as you're having to pay freight rates.

Are you panicking or getting excited?
 
Too tired for either Margaid. I've been franticaly rebuilding coops and runs then designing and building new ones for a year now. I'll get excited when it all comes together at the end. Started to panic a bit last week when I knew I had 4 completely new runs to build and only 10 days to do it in. But 20 hours over the weekend and then I knew I would finish them two days early. Looks as though I go over on the 25th for a week. Then 5 days packing and loading the trailer and van again and that's it. Then back two weeks later for the removals and to take that last stuff out of the garden. Bit more work to do on the house, so I don't officially move over until Christmas. But internet will be disconnected as the anti-virus expires so no forum from August to Christmas. I'll have to start drinking again!

I travelled the Felixstowe to Zeebrugge ferry several times when my ex-inlaws lived in Felixstowe. At night they used to run on one engine (not three) so it took about 5 hours. We are going Dover to Calais so it's an hour or so nap on a seat.
 
Hi Chris

I always read your posts with great interest. You said ' But internet will be disconnected as the anti-virus expires so no forum from August to Christmas.'

Have you thought of one of the free anti-virus programs is AVG 2012 - free for 60 days or Avast.
 
Sorry Carolb. I should have added 'and to save even more money we are stopping our BT rip-off broadband service at the same time'. We will have internet in France (half the price of BT), but I won't be there enough to have time to use it as I will be over here and in transit for 2 weeks every month until Christmas. There will be a learning curve as well, because we have switched to a Mac laptop and dumped Microsoft because of the chronic unreliability. The not very old PC is going to a smallholder friend in need down the lane/ canal from us.
 
Doubt a mobile phone will work out there Marigold, although they do sell them. Same package as we had here years ago. PAYG is wiped if you don't use it in a few months but now one supermarket is doing one that doesn't! I need it for breakdowns and that's all, to save money, as we have retired but are not eligible for state pensions yet.
 
You would need to get one of the all-singing-all-dancing phones Chris, I use my 'phone rarely and it's an ancient Nokia. People are amazed that I can't take photographs on it!!
 
Just enough time to advise that nearly 5 coops (three new breeding units plus two mobiles) and 4 runs went into the trailer together with all the rearing runs and two shelters. Took two 10 hour days to pack. The van took more than expected, as usual, including the three roofs and fronts from the new breeding units that wouldn't fit into the trailer.

Dinner then two hours sleep before departing at 10.00pm to catch the 4.20am ferry from Dover. 785 miles in total according to Google Earth. So will be off the forum for a week and will assemble all the coops and runs and check out our new home, having never seen it before -just got some measurements and an aerial photo.

Didn't quite go to plan as one run is missing. Forgot it was tucked away in a corner. And I've just realised I've forgotten the step ladders as well !!!! Will have to pack them just as I am leaving.
 
Good luck, Chris, we'll all have our fingers crossed for a speedy and safe journey. We're all looking forward to your post next week, recounting your adventure.
 
You should have tried Linux before giving more money to another greedy American Corporation.
 
Good luck Chris - travel safe and look forward to hearing all about it when you get back! (Yes I know you won't read this before you get back - but it's the thought that counts! :D )
 
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