How are you planning to transport them? I use a separate cardboard box for each one, newspaper on the floor, with a couple of 2cm. dia. holes cut along both long sides, the top flaps of the box held shut with an elastic bungee cord round the box, fastening at the top. If you try to get more than one bird in a box, it’s less easy to do it calmly and safely when you come to try to put the second one in, without the first one struggling to get out again. They calm down in the dark box. Four boxes fit in the car boot and stay upright, but I usually have some old cushions or towels to pack them securely. And when you get back in the run at home, you can release them quietly, one at a time.
The seller will catch the pullets for you, but you should hold each one and check that she has clean bum feathers, bright eyes, and no discharge from eyes or nose. She should look lively and not be very happy about being caught and picked up. If apathetic or sleepy-looking, she may not be very well. If held properly, though, she will calm down in your arms. Always hold a hen by the legs and feet. Slide your hand under her chest, from her tail towards her head, spread your fingers so you have a middle finger between her legs to cushion them, and close your hand gently but firmly round her legs. Put your other hand over her back and wings, and lift her. Rest her weight on your arm and hold your arm over her wings. Give her a moment to calm down. If not sure how to do this, ask the seller to show you how. At home, when catching her, once she comes into lay the trick is to put your hand over her back, and she will stand still, crouch and spread her wings, because this is the reflex when a cockerel is mounting her (even though she has never seen one.) Then, with one hand on her back, slide your other hand under her chest, hold her legs, and pick her up. Never try to lift a hen with two hands over her wings, or she will struggle wildly with her legs and you are then in danger of being badly scratched by her dirty claws.
When you put her down, lower her to the ground, and when her feet are on the ground open your hand and let her walk away calmly. Don’t drop her from a height as she may land awkwardly or even hurt herself. Hens can fly down from a height, of course, but need to see where they’re going and get their balance first, for themselves. Always move slowly and quietly in the run and avoid sudden noises or movement as much as possible.
You will be able to tell that you’re buying young point of lay pullets because they will have tiny combs at 16-18 weeks old. Combs grow in the month before they start to lay, and when they get red and larger that’s one sign of maturity towards the magic day of the first egg. Ask how many weeks old they are - if the seller has had them in stock for a few weeks they may be older, perhaps 18-20 weeks, and the presence or absence of coloured combs is a good clue to this.
