How to move

[Jntnrmn]

Wasn't sure where to post this question.....
I plan to be moving soon and am wondering if there is any advice on how to best move my chickens. I plan to use a net and MOST of them handle that well, but i just know there will be some that will stress terribly. Is there anything to put in their water that will help calm them? Or anything I can do to make it as stress free as possile?

 

[Studabird]

I just moved my flock of 26 birds 12 miles or a twenty minute drive. I used my brooder coop which is a 3x5 with an elevated nesting box. I put them in the nesting box and loaded them in back of the pickup truck and drove to the new house and had them in their normal coop/run situation within a few minutes of arriving. It was in the 90’s and about 85% humidity. They were stressed out when we got to the new home but settled down shortly there after. I would try to move them in the morning before you let them out and the temps get too high

 

[swamphiker]

Can you give some more details about your move? Moving chickens cross-country is quite a different task than moving nearby. Also, how many chickens do you have?

 

[Jntnrmn]

Can you give some more details about your move? Moving chickens cross-country is quite a different task than moving nearby. Also, how many chickens do you have?

I have 18 chickens and am only moving 5 minutes away. I worry the most about the cathching them part... i know once we get them there it should all work out. And i dont worry so much about the transport itself since its so quick....i just worry about catching them. I would say half of them do quite well with getting netted, have had to do that a few times and im careful how I do it. But the others act as though I plan to kill them if I walk toward them to fast

 

[Jntnrmn]

I just moved my flock of 26 birds 12 miles or a twenty minute drive. I used my brooder coop which is a 3x5 with an elevated nesting box. I put them in the nesting box and loaded them in back of the pickup truck and drove to the new house and had them in their normal coop/run situation within a few minutes of arriving. It was in the 90’s and about 85% humidity. They were stressed out when we got to the new home but settled down shortly there after. I would try to move them in the morning before you let them out and the temps get too high

Thanks so much for the reply

 

[Percheron chick]

Easiest way is to just grab them off the roost while it's still dark. Place them in dog carriers (about 5 fit in a medium size). If you have to do it later, just leave them locked in the coop until you are ready.

 

[Jntnrmn]

Easiest way is to just grab them off the roost while it's still dark. Place them in dog carriers (about 5 fit in a medium size). If you have to do it later, just leave them locked in the coop until you are ready.

Oh gosh, i have NO IDEA why I had not considered getting them straight from the roost! I have been working myself into a mess over this! THANK YOU! I had planned to move them as early in the morning as possible so they have the entire day to get used to new place and so I can watch them. So this is the perfect answer. Thanks again!

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

i know other people have suggested having them in the back of a truck, but my ducks did much better sitting next to me when we moved