Emergency Preparedness for Chickens: How to Keep them Safe

This article on emergency preparedness for chickens is a collaboration between Chicken Clucks and the Preparedness Collective.

Natural disasters, be it wildfires, hurricanes, floods, ice storms, or high winds, can come quickly and without warning. While we may have practiced evacuation routes or packed emergency kits for our families, many chicken keepers are left wondering: How to evacuate my chickens? Or worse, what if I can’t?

For those of us with backyard chickens, like myself, these are not simple questions. Unfortunately, not much information is available on this subject. Since your chickens deserve a thoughtful plan when disaster strikes, I am here to help! In this article, I will share my expert tips on prepping your chickens (and you) for natural disasters.

Let’s walk through how to prepare yourself and your chickens for both possible scenarios: evacuating with them, or doing everything possible to leave them safely behind. But first, let me briefly introduce myself…

Evacuating Chickens: Yes, You Can Take Them With You

If you have a small flock of chickens and a big car, evacuating with chickens is absolutely possible. If you have more than about 10 chickens, it might become a logistical nightmare. Since you should prioritize you and your family’s safety over that of your chickens, if you have more than 10 chickens I strongly suggest you skip to the next section. There I will explain how to leave your chickens behind as safely as possible. 

If your flock is small and your car is big enough, evacuating your chickens is the safest option. The key? Planning and preparing before disaster strikes.

Have a Chicken Go-Bag Ready

You probably have an emergency kit for your human household. Your flock deserves one too. Keep it in a dry, accessible spot and include:

• 3–5 days of poultry feed
• Portable feeder and water container
• Electrolytes and vitamins
• Small poultry first-aid kit: special chicken wound spray, gauze, scissors, probiotics
• Copies of poultry health records, vaccinations, or hatchery information
• Recent photos and descriptions of your chickens (in case any get lost)
• Leg band numbers if used for ID

The first-aid kit is meant to treat small wounds and minor injuries. For larger or more serious injuries, seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

Choose Transport Crates

Dog crates, cat carriers, or even ventilated plastic bins with lids can work. Allow 1–2 square feet per bird for short trips. Special chicken transport crates are also available. In my opinion, these are the most convenient for you and your chickens. For small flocks, group transport is usually fine, as long as there’s good airflow and they don’t fight.

These chicken transport crates have a lid on top to take birds out without unwanted escapes, and handles on the side to carry them easily. More importantly, they take in less space than a dog crate, and you can stack them on top of each other to save space in your car. Since your car is probably going to be pretty full already, this is ideal.

If you want your chickens to be comfy and your car to stay (somewhat) clean, it is best to put cardboard sheets under the crates. During transport, it is best to not put the cardboard in the crate, since your chickens can easily slip. The raster bottom of the crate gives them something to hold on to. You can put in straw or wood shavings for extra comfort for your chickens.

Practice Loading Ahead of Time

In the stress of an evacuation, the last thing you want is chickens panicking and flying everywhere. A few times a year, gently herd your birds into their crates or carriers so they’re used to the process. Toss a little treat inside so they associate the crate with something positive.

Know Where You’ll Go

Don’t wait for a warning to wonder where you’ll head. Research pet-friendly shelters, local farms, animal sanctuaries, or friends with barns ahead of time. Some fairgrounds or 4-H facilities may open to livestock during emergencies. Keep a list of potential safe places with contact info.

Stay Cool or Warm

During transport:

• Provide shade and airflow for hot weather
• Insulate or cover crates during cold or windy conditions
• If they are in the back of a pickup truck, don’t underestimate the wind-chill effect!
• Offer fresh water every few hours and stop periodically for check-ins
• Give them feed if transport takes longer than 12 hours

Your flock may not lay eggs for a while afterwards. This is a normal stress response. What matters most is that they’re safe.

Can’t Evacuate Your Chickens? Here’s How to Leave Them as Safely as Possible

Sometimes it’s just not possible to take your flock. If you have too many chickens, you already know you can’t evacuate them. But even if you have a small flock, there might be no time, or you’re evacuating on foot, or you’re sheltering in place. It’s never ideal, but there are ways to dramatically increase your chickens’ chances of survival.

Reinforce the Coop

Think of your coop as their bunker.

• Wind, storm and rainproof: Screw in extra bolts, add hurricane straps, use storm shutters or plywood over windows, cover all vents with hardware cloth or close them, seal leaky seams and secure all roofing materials.
• During extreme cold weather: Wrap coops in tarps or insulating panels, insulate waterers, provide deep bedding and draft-free roosts, and avoid propane or gas heaters inside coops (fire and fume hazard)
• Flood protection: Elevate the coop with cinder blocks or pallets if flooding is possible. Surround it with sandbags if time allows.
• Fire protection: If wildfire is a risk, clear dry vegetation within 10 meters of the coop. Cover mesh with metal sheeting or boards to protect against embers. Store hay, straw and feed away from the coop in metal bins, don’t use heat lamps, and install smoke detectors in barns or coops if possible

You want to prevent rain from getting in, bedding becoming soaked, and chickens being exposed to drafts or windchill. However, leave one small opening for ventilation if possible. Make sure it is covered with sturdy hardware cloth.

Provide Extra Food and Water

If you must leave them:

• Set up multiple waterers and feeders to prevent spillage or tipping over
• Use nipple waterers or closed containers to keep water clean longer
• Consider adding electrolytes to one of the waterers to support hydration
• Use large, gravity-fed feeders to last several days, like Grandpa’s Automatic Chicken Feeder in the picture below
• Leave extra poultry grit, including limestone grit for calcium

Water is often the most limiting factor. If you expect freezing temperatures, insulate water containers or use rubber bowls that won’t crack. I don’t recommend using heated poultry waterers during natural disasters. They only work if there is power, which there probably is not. If there is still power, they might become an electrocution risk.

Reduce Stress

Stressed chickens are vulnerable chickens.

• Remove flapping tarps or loose materials that can spook them
• Leave calming enrichment, like straw or scattered grains, but no hanging (and swaying) pecking toys
• Ensure roosts are secure and bedding is clean

Lock your chickens in the coop if conditions are dangerous outside (floodwaters, flying debris, toxic smoke), just ensure ventilation and water. Chickens have a larger chance of survival locked in a prepared coop, than when you leave them in the run or let them roam around freely.

Leave a Rescue Note

Tape or staple a waterproof note to the coop with:

• Your name and phone number
• Number and breed of chickens
• Any medical needs
• Permission for animal control or rescue groups to access the birds

If the chicken coop is not easy to spot, you can also consider leaving a note on the front door to please check your chickens. Don’t forget to mention that you and your family have evacuated!

This simple step can be life-saving if authorities or volunteers check properties after a disaster.

Additional Tips for Chicken Disaster Preparedness

Even if you never have to use these tips, preparing gives you peace of mind and could make all the difference for your flock.

Run a Drill

Once a year, run a “chicken evacuation drill.” Time how long it takes to catch, crate, and load your birds. You’ll learn what needs improving, and your birds will get used to the process. If you have a family with children, include them in the process. Make sure they take care of their safety first, follow your instructions, and don’t run off to the coop right away.

Make a Flock Inventory

Keep a digital or printed list of your chickens, their names, photos, breeds, and band numbers. Add notes about special needs or behaviors. This helps in reuniting lost birds and in insurance claims, if needed.

Prepare Backup Power

In case of power outages, especially in winter, have a plan to keep your chickens from freezing and to maintain minimal lighting. A generator or battery-powered backup system can help. Also, solar-powered lighting and equipment is available.

Be Prepared for the Possibility of Euthanasia of a Chicken

If your chickens have severe and painful injuries and a veterinarian isn’t immediately available, you may need to consider euthanasia to prevent further suffering. It’s a deeply difficult decision, but sometimes it’s the kindest and most compassionate option. Preparing yourself emotionally and practically in advance can help you act in your chicken’s best interest if the situation arises.

Visit Chicken Clucks to Learn More About Chickens

Curious about keeping chickens or looking to improve your backyard flock’s care? At Chicken Clucks, you’ll find friendly, down-to-earth advice from a fellow chicken keeper and poultry expert who’s been there. With a background in animal sciences and plenty of hands-on experience raising a small flock, I created this blog to help hobby keepers feel confident and enjoy their chickens even more.

From setting up the perfect coop to choosing the right feed, managing issues, and understanding egg-laying quirks, the blog covers it all in a clear, practical way. Whether you’re new to chickens or have had them for years, there’s always something to learn about.

Come visit www.chickenclucks.com and explore tips, guides, and stories straight from the backyard. Your chickens will thank you.

Join the Preparedness Collective

The Preparedness Collective helps you prepare to keep your pet safe during large-scale disasters, disruptions, and emergencies. It offers science-backed resources, preparedness education, proactive planning support, and community practice opportunities.

“By emphasizing community-led and network-based solutions – together, we are working to ensure the bio- and psyche-safety of the entire family-unit in times of crisis”.

In June 2025, Cultivate Wellbeing and the Preparedness Collective organized the World Congress on Planetary Health. During this congress, community interviews took place, including one about emergency and disaster preparedness for chicken keepers.

Check out the full video of the Community Interview: Backyard Flock Evacuation Practice, with Erin Meyers and dr. Casara Andre on how to evacuate your chickens, and other helpful tips. See the teaser video on Youtube below.

Final Thoughts: Flock Safety is Family Safety

Preparedness isn’t only about gear and plans, it’s about peace of mind. It’s knowing that when the wind howls or the smoke rolls in, you’ve already made the tough decisions. Whether you’re loading your chickens into crates or locking up the coop tight with extra rations, you’ll know you did everything in your power. You’ll be acting calmly and confidently, because you’ve already prepared.

Our chickens aren’t just livestock. They’re beloved pets, companions, and part of the family rhythm.  But in any emergency, your safety and your family’s well-being must come first. Never put yourself or family members in danger for the sake of saving your flock!

That being said, by planning ahead you can give your chickens the best possible chance. They depend on us, and with a little foresight, we can be ready for anything.

And that, dear chicken keeper, is something to cluck proudly about.