Have you ever road tripped for a chicken?

[SourRoses]

So, I feel a little crazy and I was hoping some feedback might help.
We want a particular chicken. It's a rooster that's a bit of a sport, with unusual qualities. He's $20.
To go get him will cost $140 in gas as it's several states away.
I've searched high and low for any alternative transport (mostly concerned with leaving our birds, but that's solved). It's least expensive and least risky to just go get him ourselves.
I've mentally branded him "the $160 chicken". I feel like I've lost my marbles. But it looks like we're going. My mom is a total enabler

So, I was looking at farms we might stop at "on the way" (not really), with the idea that getting more chickens would make each one less expensive. However, the states we're crossing don't seem to have quality breeders with birds in stock of either breed I would be interested in.
I desperately want to feel like we're killing two birds with one stone (not actually!) but I'm hitting dead ends.

Does anyone on the way even want some of my roosters? (goes the plaintive thought)
What can we do that's touristy to make it feel fun? (I prefer the other coast)


So, have you ever road tripped for a chicken?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So, have you ever road tripped for a chicken?

I have had folks trip here from 8 hours away. Yes, they made a vacation out of it. We bonfired at the beach and such.

Another family came 4 hours each way, stayed in a hotel and let the kids enjoy the pool.

I have tripped as far as 3.5 hours each way myself. Had lunch at a nice place and made a day of it.

I will note that crossing state lines with poultry without proper permits is illegal in most states.. requiring either NPIP certification or a veterinary import form.

Getting birds from more than one location would mean that IF you brought back some avian virus or disease that you may not be able to quarantine them from one another or identify which place it came from.

Things of concern that may not be showing symptoms.. Marek's, chronic respiratory stuff like infectious bronchitis, Coryza, etc.

Sorry for the debbie downer type post.. YAY, MOM!

 

[SourRoses]

Not to worry, the breeder is NPIP (and something or other). It's a very valid point to make, nothing to apologize for
The trip will be 11 hours there and 11 back, so 22. We don't want to shell out for a (clean) hotel so we're just going to drive straight through.

We did drive 4 hours to pick up 4 hens earlier this year, but that didn't feel like a big deal because we were able to care for our birds in the morning and evening.
I'm thinking we'll take off late in the evening so we make it to the farm in the early morning. I can stay awake driving at night so my mom will just spell me a couple hours at a time. And of course she's taking her little Chihuahua

 

[user651618]

I'd do it. Tell your friends "yeah brah I spent $160 on this chicken because its badass". It's a nice conversation piece. I've spent $160 on way dumber stuff. Let it ride shotgun on the way home. Yolo