Moving chickens to new property - advise needed

[LizzzyJo]

Hello All!

Next week, I will be moving my chickens to my friend's property so that she can chicken sit for one month. I have 3 that are 1 year old and 5 that are 4 months old.

We have set up her coop and run - she had an inherited coop, no chickens.

What can I do to make their transition easier? What should I watch out for? Do I do it at night?

Thanks!

 

[aart]

How long since chickens were kept there?
Is coop and run secure and of good size for 8 birds?
How long have the 4 months olds lived with the older birds?
How far will you have to travel?

When I have to move chickens I 'catch' them off the roost at night and put them in crates. Crates have hanging nipple waterers and feed cups. Then I transport them the next day, pretty easy to do in my van with a plywood floor in back.

Giving a dose of Sav-A-Chick electrolytes/vitamins a few days before the move will give them a boost to help deal with the stress. I assume you will be bringing their feeders, waterers, and feed along.

With no other birds to contend with, and given secure and spacious new housing, they should be fine.

 

[DobieLover]

The only thing I would add to @aart's excellent advice would be to have Corid at the ready in the event they develop coccidiosis due to exposure to different strains than the ones to which they have developed a tolerance at your property.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

All good advice above. I also recommend letting them orient themselves to the new space. Lock them in the coop 24 hours a day for the first couple days so they know that the new coop is the safe and correct place to sleep. If there is a run attached to the coop, keep them in there for a couple more days before allowing them to free range so they can find their way back home. You don't want to lose them while you are out of town.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Thank you all for the help!
To answer the questions:

Her coop hasn't had birds in over 2 years.

The coop is 'for' 8 birds - so it's big enough, albeit a bit cramped - BUT the run is enclosed, huge, and spectacular. Which is good because mine are used to free ranging for 4-6 hours a day and I will not allow her to free range them at her house. I'm paranoid and believe that noone will ever care for my chickens like I do

The babies have been with the big girls for 9 weeks. Babies still get chased from food, but noone gets too crabby. My baby roo is a buff brahma and the big girls can no longer chase him off as easily (he's bigger than them now), so this is helping the baby girls stand up for themselves.

It is a 20 minute drive.

Do I have to keep them in the coop for a few days? I'm worried about bullying, which the big girls do when cooped up during the day. They are used to freedom and get crazy if I have to lock them up when the sun is out. I worry about this, but I do want them to recognize their home. Help?

I don't have corid - can they get it if the chickens have been gone for years?

I can give them save-a-chick, no problem. Or chicken gatorade as we call it.

 

[aart]

The coop is 'for' 8 birds - so it's big enough, albeit a bit cramped - BUT the run is enclosed, huge, and spectacular.

Sizes in feet by feet would be good.

Do I have to keep them in the coop for a few days? I'm worried about bullying, which the big girls do when cooped up during the day. They are used to freedom and get crazy if I have to lock them up when the sun is out. I worry about this, but I do want them to recognize their home. Help?

It would be good to do so, so they roost in there at night...unless this huge enclosed spectacular run is weather and predator proof.
Might be good to start locking them up so they get used to confinement before the move.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Sizes in feet by feet would be good.

It would be good to do so, so they roost in there at night...unless this huge enclosed spectacular run is weather and predator proof.
Might be good to start locking them up so they get used to confinement before the move.

My guess is 24 sq feet. About 4 feet high.

The run is not weather or predator proof. I guess they’ll just have to fight it out inside for a day or two.

 

[aart]

Should be interesting.
Why will they be there for a month?

 

[LizzzyJo]

Should be interesting.
Why will they be there for a month?

We will be in Ireland for the month. Couldn’t get the chickens passports

 

[aart]

Couldn’t get the chickens passports

Happy Trails!