how far is to far to drive to obtain a bird

[Lgbchickie]

is 1 hour to far? is a hour and a half too far? i feel 30 minutes might be too far

options?

 

[Cheekychook12]

is 1 hour to far? is a hour and a half too far? i feel 30 minutes might be too far

options?

Most I would drive is three hours but depends how much you want the bird and what other closer options you have but I think 30mins is quite reasonable

 

[Debbie292d]

It all depends on the availability of what you want and where you're at. If that particular breed is plentiful, then I'd say 15-30 minutes.

In my case of wanting exhibition-quality silkies, I either have them flown in, buy hatching eggs to be shipped here, or drive up to three hours. I was so excited to find two though, one's 45 minutes and the other an hour and 15 minutes. That's great to me!

 

[saysfaa]

It just depends on your options, your goals, and your resources.

I drove an extra 3 hours on what would otherwise have been a 12 hour drive for chicks from Cackle. It was that important to me to pick them up and get them from a hatchery rather than a backyard. Cackle was the closest place in the spring of 2021 that met those goals.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

What distance are -you- comfortable with driving for a bird?
And with the distance that's comfortable for you, what is reasonable for your budget and your vehicle? Some cars shouldn't go long distances or in certain weather or road conditions (like up steep hills). Some people just can't drive for long, or don't have the budget to afford the gas.

Although, if you aren't the one driving, then the people who are may not be willing to drive as far as you are.

Personally, if I REALLY wanted something that I couldn't get locally (there's a lot we can't get locally so this is normal for us) we've driven a couple hours each way for things. But that's in rare situations. Preferably, under 30 minutes each way.

*edit - it sounds contradictory that I said "it's normal for us to drive far" and then "but that's rare".
Sometimes things aren't very close to us. 15-30 minute drive is normal for a lot of necessities.
But if we really want or need something specific that's further away, then obviously we have to drive to get it.
Usually find a way to justify NOT driving that distance, though. Being in a car for hours sucks.

 

[StinkyAcres]

If you're asking if birds can take a long car ride - yes, they can. I drove an hour for chicks of a rare breed and two hours for my ducks (was told they were a rare coloration but it turns out they weren't ).
Used a dog crate with a cardboard box inside it for the ducks.

 

[Knobby]

I like to rescue roosters, but I had one gentleman reach out to me asking if I would take in his 2 roosters and he would drive the 6 hours from his place to drop them off. I could not, in my right mind, accept those terms. I mean, the guy would be on the road for 12 total hours to try and rehome his 2 roosters. I tried telling him to reach out to a local animal shelters and/or rescues..to which he stated he already did with no luck. As much as I would have taken the roosters, I would have felt terrible knowing the time and effort it took to get them to me.

 

[SkyAJK]

I like to rescue roosters, but I had one gentleman reach out to me asking if I would take in his 2 roosters and he would drive the 6 hours from his place to drop them off. I could not, in my right mind, accept those terms. I mean, the guy would be on the road for 12 total hours to try and rehome his 2 roosters. I tried telling him to reach out to a local animal shelters and/or rescues..to which he stated he already did with no luck. As much as I would have taken the roosters, I would have felt terrible knowing the time and effort it took to get them to me.

I think he is willing to drive that far to give his roosters a good home or a home. I would have done the same.

 

[Knobby]

I think he is willing to drive that far to give his roosters a good home or a home. I would have done the same.

Yes, there are alot of folks willing to make that sacrifice to ensure that their beloved pet gets to live out a good life, but as stated, I would feel so guilty...like I took advantage of someone to get free roosters. Although that may not be the case, I would still feel that way.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Well, the closest hatching eggs from this year were about a half hour drive (one way). We made two trips that were 2 hours (again, one way) for hatching eggs and chicks. And we had one long weekend trip to pick up hatching eggs in another state. That was a six hour drive, but we kinda justified it by making it a mini vacation and visiting a friend who lives in that state.

Honestly, I don't think anything about driving 2-4 hours for something I want that isn't available locally. We drive an hour each week to do grocery shopping (husband works from the office, so he's there for work anyway). A few hours for some birds is just a normal thing for us.