Moving with chickens

[Johnchickens2]

To be completely honest, I want to leave because my father and I don't get much along and I want my own freedom. And its sad that just because my father doesnt really like me, I need to let my flock go.
Sorry for the TMI ... but I just love my chickens which I hatched and raised, each has a name... its difficult enough to leave my house, now also leave them.....
They are like my kids.

 

[Mrs. K]

No, I do understand that. Consider contacting a 4-h group, or checking at the feed store - maybe there is someone where you could go visit your flock.

Another option, is to sell part of them? Is there a way to add a small yard to the coop? Do you have pictures? Pictures always help.

Mrs K

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do you really think your dad doesn't like you? Read what you said about your chickens. They are like your kids. You ARE your dad's kid. You hatched and raised them. Your dad raised you much longer than you've had your chickens. Each of your chickens has a name. Your dad named you, too.

Something has come between you and your dad, obviously, but he will never stop loving you. Is there any way you can work things out with him so you and your chickens can stay where you are? Find out what he wants from you and see if you can't find some way to compromise so you and he are both happy. Good luck.

 

[Johnchickens2]

Thank you all, it's actually much more complicated than it sounds...
Currently I am looking for a place in a rural area that allows chickens (noise etc..) , I will be happy to post pictures when I find something that looks good to me. Hope it will all be alright eventually.....

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Best wishes!
Keep us posted.

 

[Johnchickens2]

Hi all, is it possible that the floor of the run will actually be artificial turf/grass?

 

[cavemanrich]

Hi all, is it possible that the floor of the run will actually be artificial turf/grass?

I personally would skip, that and keep whatever surface. Easier to clean,,, as well as throw some soil/sand for them to scratch.

 

[NatJ]

I can rent a place with a yard (not many places that allow chickens in my area) but it means the chickens will have to be locked in a coop, confined

What climate are you in? That can make a big difference in what kind of housing your chickens need.

Now this is a flock that is free in the yard all day. Since they were born. They hate staying in coop, even for a short time until I open the coop door in the morning. Now to put them in a smaller coop all day... I am concerned about their health!!! Some of them are SIX years old already.

You might be able to use a coop (enclosed building) with an attached run (their own private yard).

Or in some climates, you can do a run with wire mesh sides and a solid roof, and completely skip the coop. Just put a roost bar and nestboxes in a sheltered corner of the run. That gives the chickens plenty of light and air all the time, so they do not feel as much shut in.

In general, the bigger you can make the coop and run, the happier the chickens will be.

Also - how can I keep the 3 males with me??? I cant put then in the same closed coop. They fight all the time.

Maybe three coops, with three runs?

Or a coop that is divided in three, each with a pop door to its own section of a divided run.

My chickens are like my kids. Each has got a name, and I want them with me when I leave.

You could try to take them with you.
You could try to rehome them.
You could try to rehome some and take others with you.

In general, the fewer chickens you take with you, the easier it will be to manage the details. The fewer chickens you have, the more space each one has in the coop (assuming the same size coop), and fewer chickens make less poop so that means less cleaning and less potential smell. Specific chickens can make extra differences. For example, if you take just one rooster, he cannot fight with the other two. Or if you find a place that will allow hens but not roosters, you might rehome the roosters but keep a few hens.

 

[Johnchickens2]

Thank you. It does feel really sad that because of my family issues, I need to give up on the chickens. Even if its some of them. I might be able to have a coop with a run attached, about the size of a king-size bed. Who knows... I will have more infornation when I go to see the places and talk to the people there

 

[MROO]

You need to do some soul-searching and planning before you make the move. Chickens may not be terribly expensive to keep, but they aren't free. Those costs need to be considered along with your rent/groceries/utilities. If you can find a good home for one or two of your boys, that would help, but the rest should be fine. Even the older hens should adapt. We all tend to slow down a bit as we get "up there!"

If you do decide you can and will take them along, as long as your birds have a good-sized run and you give them things to do, like tossing the occasional scratch or a whole head of cabbage. If they have a large run, a small coop won't make too much difference for them. If you can take the one they're accustomed to with you, do it. It will make the transition easier.

If it's small enough, set it up in a dog run. If it's not, set it up beside one and add a doorway. For ten Serama and bantam sized chickens, a chain-link dog run should be plenty of room for their run. You can often find them cheap or free second-hand, just be prepared to add hardware cloth around the bottom & to close gaps. You'll also need to cover it with hardware cloth, netting or solid panels to keep them "home" and keep visitors out. Adding interesting obstacles is easy. Going vertical with more perches will add lots of roaming space and add places for The Boys to get away from each other. Mine have an old wooden ladder and some kiddie chairs. They play King-of-the-Mountain all day long!

Good Luck - not just on moving with chickens, but with starting a new chapter in your life. No matter how the chicken issue works out, You've Got This! And we're proud of you!