Moving the Coop

[CerroChick]

I have to move my coop about 200 yards for where it sets currently. I was wondering if anyone had some advice? I don't know if I can safely move the coop with the chickens inside. It's 4x8 ft.

 

[aart]

Post pics of coop, please....and where it has to travel.

 

[Mrs. K]

no, let the chickens out. If you are moving it just that little bit, the birds will find it and go there at night.

 

[nparks]

We have moved ours a couple of times with them in it and out of it. If you do move it with them in it, make sure to take out anything that is not securely attached to the walls.
If you take them out to move it, make sure you gather them all up at night and that they know where the coop is. One time when we moved ours without them in it, I had one lonesome chicken that never made her out way back to the coop and I couldn’t find her. Something got her during the night

Good luck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Someone on here wisely said something to the effect of "chickens can't fathom a building moving."

You'll need to keep an eye on them for the first few days after you move them, and help them get to the new location. Even moving the coop 10-15 ft can be enough to confuse the heck out of them.

For safety reasons I would take them out of the coop before moving it, just in case something comes loose during the move.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not sure what you are worried about. Is it physically injuring the chickens during the move? I've moved a 4x8 tractor by hand with no bottom with the chickens inside with no issues. I went slowly and watched carefully you see that no one got caught but it wasn't hard. But of course that depend on what your coop looks like. You can always put your chickens in some kind of box or containment during the move.

Are you worried that they won't return to the coop if they free range? That's possible or it might not be an issue. I'd figure out a way to lock them in the coop the first night in the new location and see what happens. Will they be in a run? How old are they? Are they laying in that coop? A bit more info and maybe a photo or two might help us help you.