Long distance move to cold climate - keep or rehome old hens?

[NatJ]

I think they'd adapt OK, especially since you mentioned using a sunroom or basement for the rest of that first winter.

I think moving them cross-country would be a nuisance, but doable if it's important to you.

If it's important to you that these particular chickens be loved and cared for during the rest of their lives, I would take them with you.

If you don't care about these specific chickens, then I would eat these ones, and buy new ones at the new home. (It does not look like this would fit your situation, but I mention it in case it does.)

For the bonus question, about the rooster: move first, then decide! If you do get more chickens to add to these, then of course you'll be dealing with integrating various flocks at some point, but that will work better if you're moved and settled before you try it.

 

[Mrs. K]

Neither you nor I have any idea what age such birds were. 7 years old is not particularly old for a chicken.
I think it's up to the OP to decide if the expense and inconvenience is worth it.
For myself and for many others, if you've have kept and known your birds for 7 years you may well have become attached to them.
My opinion is, many people would not think twice about this if it was a dog, or cat.

To me, a 7 year old chicken is an old chicken. A very old chicken. As a rancher, money and animals is a fact of life. Some things are more economical than others, and influence my choices.

But you are right, it is their decision, and most people would take the dog or/& cat. I think we tend to answer these from our own perspective, and another perspective would not work for you or me.

To each his/her own.

Mrs K

 

[bobbi-j]

Because I care about my chickens, but am not attached to them as I am my dog or cat, I don’t think I would put older chickens through the move. I think they would adapt to another keeper who brings them food much more easily than they would handle a cross country move. But, we farm, and like Mrs. K, economics and practicality are big determining factors in how and why we do things.

 

[lomine]

I'm not sure how close you are to the Newcastle outbreak zone but I think every chicken owner in the rest of the US would be grateful if you kept CA birds in CA.

I know that you must be attached to your birds, otherwise you wouldn't ask this question, but I think the risks are too great. Just a while back someone in CO posted about losing an older bird due to the extreme temperature drop. This was a bird that had been through cold winters before but she couldn't handle the sudden drop from a cold front, even with good housing. And that didn't include the stress of a 3000 mile trip. Even many hatcheries and breeders stop shipping birds in the winter. Plus there are all the risks of disease. They can't test for everything so you may take something to VA. Or like others have said your birds could be exposed to something new that they won't be able to handle.

 

[Morrigan]

California is a big state and the Bay Area is 100s of miles from the quarantine zone. In any event, I think the OP is trying to rehome her hens locally.

 

[lomine]

California is a big state and the Bay Area is 100s of miles from the quarantine zone. In any event, I think the OP is trying to rehome her hens locally.

New cases have been detected outside the quarantine zone.