Moving chickens

[Aero2054]

We have 6 hens; 2 are 3 years old and 3 are last years. We love them and they are fun. There is a very real possibility we will be moving from northern Colorado to southern Texas this summer (job-wise a very good thing!) Am I bonkers for wanting to take these hens with us? Is it better for them to find them a new home here and get more chickens once we move? I’m estimating it to be a 16 hour drive total but with a 3 year old (human child!) we will probably break that into a 3 day trip honestly. Plus two large dogs and one 17 year old cat.
Thoughts? and TIA!

 

[DobieLover]

We have 6 hens; 2 are 3 years old and 3 are last years. We love them and they are fun. There is a very real possibility we will be moving from northern Colorado to southern Texas this summer (job-wise a very good thing!) Am I bonkers for wanting to take these hens with us? Is it better for them to find them a new home here and get more chickens once we move? I’m estimating it to be a 16 hour drive total but with a 3 year old (human child!) we will probably break that into a 3 day trip honestly. Plus two large dogs and one 17 year old cat.
Thoughts? and TIA!

A friend of mine drove her flock of 6 chickens from New York to Texas. She went down and got the coop and run set to and ready and then came back for the flock. Everyone made the trip just fine.
She did not have a toddler or dogs with her though!

 

[Mrs. K]

Really, you will love other chickens just as much. I would think it would add a huge amount of stress to you, your family and your birds. Let these go locally to another place in the same climate and area that they are used to. Chickens really don't like change, it stresses them, and they would be exposed to a new place with new germs in a stressed condition.

My two cents - let these go, move, get settled, and get set up for some new birds.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Am I bonkers for wanting to take these hens with us?
Is it better for them to find them a new home here and get more chickens once we move?

Not really.
But yes, let them go...get some new ones once you are settled.
Congrats on the job and good luck with the move.

 

[texsuze]

Just my opinion, but once you are certain that you're moving, I would try to re-home your current flock rather than try to move with them. Not an easy decision, but since you'd have a head start timewise, you can begin here at BYC to find them a new home in similar climate.

Northern CO to southern TX will be a big change. It gets pretty hot down here, just sayin' You and family will have enough of a transition to make without making sure your girls are comfortable, especially if moving in summer. Then, as already mentioned, once you are settled and have a super coop ready, enjoy looking for some new hens!

You will like central/south Texas! No snow to mess with, and you can always head back to CO to get your 'powder' fix and visit friends! Good luck!

 

[Aero2054]

Thank you all! I think that re-homing them here will be best for them, though I will miss them terribly.

 

[Folly's place]

You will love the new ones too!
There's paperwork and testing necessary when moving chickens out of state, doable but another expense and project to deal with.
Mary