Moving flock to new coop 60-70 meandering yards away

[Docsflocks]

Correct assumptions. Just wondering if putting them in crates and boxes will be more stress than just being held for a walk.

 

[aart]

Correct assumptions. Just wondering if putting them in crates and boxes will be more stress than just being held for a walk.

Ehhh, they'll be fine......would be more stress and work for you to carry the birds one at a time that far.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Correct assumptions. Just wondering if putting them in crates and boxes will be more stress than just being held for a walk.

Thanks for that, I forgot to ask why you were concerned. I thought you were just asking how to do it. I know some people don't like to walk but I walk further to get the mail every day than the total of all my trips when moving the chicks. Walking doesn't bother me.

They are chickens. No matter how you move them they are going into a new location. They might not like it since they usually don't like change but since the new coop is bigger than the brooder they get over that pretty quickly. By quickly, when I set them in the new coop they may sit there for a minute or two, then they explore.

In my opinion there will be some stress to them no matter how you move them as you are doing it. No matter how you do it they will be over that stress of the move within a few minutes. Then the stress switches to "We are in a new place. Look how big it is. This is fun! Hey, look over here, there's food!" No matter how you do it they are not going to hate you forevermore. They are not going to be traumatized where you need to pipe in Dr. Phil every day for a month to help them reestablish their self-esteem.

In my opinion the question is what is most convenient for you? At the end of the day the chickens won't care how they were moved. For me that's just to carry them two at a time. I could use a dog crate on a wheel barrow. The way mine is set up I won't be driving a vehicle. I'd have to remove them from the crate one at a time to put them in my grow-out coop, that would be traumatic for them plus there is a chance some could escape. With my grow-out coop I can't set the crate in the coop and just open it. A crate full of chickens might get heavy and awkward to handle, though if your daughter can help that might make a big difference.

To me you are the most important part of the equation. What is easiest for you? At the end of the day the chickens won't care but your sore legs or sore back might.