If I fast travel back to my hearth fire, will I drop a crate full of chickens I'm carrying?
Also, how much food do chickens need to survive? I've got 5 hens, a cock and 4 chicks

So exciting

Thanks for your help!
Edit: Turns out I need straw to make a coop, for which I need farming and wheat crop - as this isn't going to happen for a while, I guess I should just eat most of the chickens
