Moving the Coop - birds in or out?

[SunnyAlberta]

I can move my coop easily with a dolly. Should I take the girls out before I do so?

 

[Leslieb118]

I know this will probably sound horrible to some, but it worked out for me. Keep in mind, I was horrified at the time though! My DH built my first coop in his shop and moved it to the side driveway by the shop. I moved my young ones in it where it sat, because they quickly outgrew their brooder. They stayed there for about a month while we worked out a run for them about 50 yards away (or more). I'd let them out every morning, and they'd hang around there for the most part during the day. I knew I couldn't keep that coop where it was. He built it out of very sturdy wood..8 feet long, 3 feet wide. It is VERY heavy. There was no way we could move it ourselves. My DH took it upon himself to lock the girls and boy inside, pull the bobcat out of the shop, lift one end with the bucket of the bobcat and use those heavy yellow straps to strap the coop onto the bucket. Well of course, about 6 feet of the coop was lifted into the air slightly with nothing underneath to support it.

I was a nervous wreck. He moved it into place, set it down on the concrete blocks I had placed underneath, unstrapped it, moved the bobcat way far away, and I opened the coop door. Everyone was fine!!! I didn't want to do it that way, but we wondered if they'd find their coop if we kept them out of it while we moved it, and would they "freak out" at the bobcat and scatter to who knows where? They had always felt safe in their coop, so we did what we did. They took to their new surroundings right away.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Leslie, I may have to delete your reply. Even though our coop is tiny and portable, Hubby may think he now has an excuse to get a Bobcat.

 

[Leslieb118]

LOL! Sorry about that!