Moving my "wild" pet chicken and rooster

[KauaiChickenGirl]

HI! I'm new here. I tried searching, but I think my situation is a little unique. Anyone have experience moving with "feral" chickens? I live on Kauai and there are chickens everywhere. My husband and I rescued a couple day old baby from a cat in December. We raised her indoors and she is just recently "chickening" on her own outside with other wild chickens and sleeping in the tree. She has a boyfriend and the two do everything together. He is pretty chill and will take treats from my hand. We have to move about 30 min away in a couple weeks and I want to take them both with us. The person buying our rental is not animal friendly :-( Since I won't have a coop to keep them in at the new place, any tips or suggestions? What time of day is best to move them? Will they freak out at the new surroundings? Will the stress of the move hurt them? Should I put them in the same cage or separate? Will there be territory stress with the wild chickens around the new place? I just want them to be happy and safe.

My Nugget and Rico

 

[cfonts]

Sorry that I don't have any suggestions for you for moving your feral chickens, but I just saw that you're a new member and I noticed your screen name! I'm from Kauai too and I was adopted by a wild chicken last May! I hope that the members here will offer you some advice on moving Nugget and Rico

 

[Weeg]

Try to catch them at night. Do you know were they sleep? If you could catch them the night before, and put them in a dog crate for the move I bet that would work perfectly. Chickens stay pretty calm at night.

Will they freak out at the new surroundings?

Chickens hate change, is it possible you could get a wire dog run to borrow, or buy to put them in for a few days? I've seen them for $40 on Amazon. If you could get one to put them in for a few days, that would be a perfect setup for them to get used to everything. Usually this probably wouldn't be needed, but since yours are more fertile, or not used to being handled, they may be a bit more stressed then other more socialized chickens.

Will the stress of the move hurt them? Should I put them in the same cage or separate?

If its only 30 minutes, that won't hurt them at all. They won't be in the car long, and will probably be just fine. I recently re homed a few of my older hens to someone 4 hours away. Thats 4 hours in the car, and they were happy and comfortable in their new home the next day.
I would put them together. They will be happy to know the other is with them.

Will there be territory stress with the wild chickens around the new place?

The only reason I would worry about this would be because of other wild roosters. Since yours are fertile, you don't have a coop or run, your rooster will be out in the wilderness with other, unfamiliar roosters. This is another time that a wire dog run may be helpful. Then other roosters and hear his crow and get used to seeing him even though they won't be able to get to him. Then after a few days or even a week, you'll know when its the right time, you can let them go. There will be some territory/pecking order moments for a bit, but that is perfectly normal. Assuming they spend most of there time on your property, they shouldn't encounter to many more wild relatives.
Something like this-

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[Weeg]

HI! I'm new here. I tried searching, but I think my situation is a little unique. Anyone have experience moving with "feral" chickens? I live on Kauai and there are chickens everywhere. My husband and I rescued a couple day old baby from a cat in December. We raised her indoors and she is just recently "chickening" on her own outside with other wild chickens and sleeping in the tree. She has a boyfriend and the two do everything together. He is pretty chill and will take treats from my hand. We have to move about 30 min away in a couple weeks and I want to take them both with us. The person buying our rental is not animal friendly :-( Since I won't have a coop to keep them in at the new place, any tips or suggestions? What time of day is best to move them? Will they freak out at the new surroundings? Will the stress of the move hurt them? Should I put them in the same cage or separate? Will there be territory stress with the wild chickens around the new place? I just want them to be happy and safe.
View attachment 2634154
View attachment 2634155
My Nugget and Rico

Hey are very pretty! Love the names to! I definitely think you should take them with you, they seem social enough! So cute!!!!
Also! Welcome to BYC! Make your self at home here in this wonderful community!

 

[Weeg]

If you buy that run to, then you could even cover the top with roofing, and put bedding down in it for the long run. They'll have a safe place to lay eggs, and a sheltered home that they can feel safe in. Plus, it'll be on your property, so will keep them near by.
You can put the feeder in there as well to keep the feed dry, and that will help them get used to the area, and feel safe.

 

[KauaiChickenGirl]

Try to catch them at night. Do you know were they sleep? If you could catch them the night before, and put them in a dog crate for the move I bet that would work perfectly. Chickens stay pretty calm at night.

Chickens hate change, is it possible you could get a wire dog run to borrow, or buy to put them in for a few days? I've seen them for $40 on Amazon. If you could get one to put them in for a few days, that would be a perfect setup for them to get used to everything. Usually this probably wouldn't be needed, but since yours are more fertile, or not used to being handled, they may be a bit more stressed then other more socialized chickens.

If its only 30 minutes, that won't hurt them at all. They won't be in the car long, and will probably be just fine. I recently re homed a few of my older hens to someone 4 hours away. Thats 4 hours in the car, and they were happy and comfortable in their new home the next day.
I would put them together. They will be happy to know the other is with them.

The only reason I would worry about this would be because of other wild roosters. Since yours are fertile, you don't have a coop or run, your rooster will be out in the wilderness with other, unfamiliar roosters. This is another time that a wire dog run may be helpful. Then other roosters and hear his crow and get used to seeing him even though they won't be able to get to him. Then after a few days or even a week, you'll know when its the right time, you can let them go. There will be some territory/pecking order moments for a bit, but that is perfectly normal. Assuming they spend most of there time on your property, they shouldn't encounter to many more wild relatives.
Something like this-
View attachment 2634159
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Thanks for all the suggestions. They always sleep on the same tree branch, so I could lure them with some food into a cage at night. They are always hungry before bed. I was just concerned about Rico attacking Nugget if he got scared on the ride. Do you think they would be willing to get right up in a tree when we get there at dark or should I get a cage big enough to leave them in overnight and let them explore in the morning?

Unfortunately I don't think I will be able to keep them enclosed when we get there. We are renting one side of a duplex and not sure how fond the new neighbors would be with us keeping chickens :-( The property has some less easily seen jungly areas, but no where we could hide a pen. We were hoping to just let them continue to roam wild even though they insist on begging for food every day

Thanks again!!

 

[Weeg]

Thanks for all the suggestions. They always sleep on the same tree branch, so I could lure them with some food into a cage at night. They are always hungry before bed. I was just concerned about Rico attacking Nugget if he got scared on the ride. Do you think they would be willing to get right up in a tree when we get there at dark or should I get a cage big enough to leave them in overnight and let them explore in the morning?

Can you grab them? My chickens are skittish to, but if I can sneak up on them at night and get close enough to grab them, its usually pretty easy.
They know each other well right? They sound attached. As long as they are used to each other, everything should be fine. They will hunker down next to each other in the kennel and probably be super chill.

They would probably be willing to jump in a tree at the new place for sure, but its your call wether you want to put them in a run for a bit to get them used to the new surroundings, and their new wild relatives.
I would personally would probably get a dog run like the one I pictured, and keep them in that for at least a few days.

 

[KauaiChickenMama]

Aloha, I was reading your thread from April and was wondering how everything turned out with transporting your two feral chickens to your new place?