Relocating small flock from VA to ME

[Jezzebel]

Hi all, I'm new here so if this is posted in the wrong place I apologize in advance. We have a small flock of 4 hens and 1 rooster. We will be relocating from Virginia to Maine in a month or so. I am worried about transporting and acclimating our chickies to the harsh winters up there :/ Any helpful tips or suggestions for those that have been through this? We have a bantam Cochin, 2 bantam silkies and 2 Easter eggers. They are all 3 years old. I know the bantams are not very cold hardy. Thanks for any advice!

 

[centrarchid]

Preparation for transport. Make so birds have a well ventilated crate / hauler for ride. Make certain all birds in good weight before transport.

Transport. Feed sparingly. Provide ample water at least once a day. Make certain they are not exposed to excessive engine exhaust. Keep birds dry by changing out bedding as needed.


Other end coop. Good ventilation. Dry. Same diet as before trip. In good nutrition and not exposed to wind or wet and they should handle cold well.

 

[Folly's place]

There may be issues with health certificates or testing needed for interstate transport; check with the state vet's office, soon, so any issues can be addressed. Silkies are a bit less cold tolerant because of their feathering. Check on the Silkies forum, and/ or the Maine forum sites. Mary

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC @jezzabell ...you are indeed in the correct forum for your question.


Are you taking their coop/run with you too?
.......and will you be able to place it well if there is lots of snow on the ground?

 

[lazy gardener]

Be sure to come on over and join us on the Maine forum. Always good to have an other local! What part of Maine will you be moving to? It will be an adjustment for them in terms of change in temp between there and here! But, working in your favor is the forecast of a milder winter! Last 2 were brutal. Non stop snow and cold, with days at a time below 0*F. Of course your most important thing will be good ventilation while protecting them from drafts. Lots of deep bedding will help as well.

 

[Jezzebel]

Thank you for the replies! I tried to locate the Maine forum, What is an easy way to find it? We will be moving to the midcoast region, we are originally from up there but my chickies have never experienced the weather up there :/ We have a large permanent coop here so can't take it unfortunately but we will be housing them in a barn up in Maine. I was thinking of buying them one of those small self contained coops with the nesting area above and placing that inside the barn so they could huddle together for warmth and have the additional protection of the barn. I'm really leary of using a heat lamp in a barn. My littles don't roost they sleep together in a large nesting box The two Easter eggers roost together. As far as transport I have an XL dog kennel and I was thinking of wrapping it in an old blanket, leaving some small spaces open for ventilation, they will be in the back of a pick up truck, but I think if tucked up close to the cab they shouldn't get much direct wind. I'm just worried they will get cold during the long trip. Praying for a mild weather moving day with no precipitation!

 

[lazy gardener]

Unless you have money to throw away, don't waste it on those little pre-fabs, IMO. Way too much money for way too little space. Do you have an option to work on that barn before you actually move? Biggest concern would be that unless it's nice and tight, it will not be predator proof. They might fare the ride better if you give them a cardboard box with plenty of air holes. More insulation, though I'm sure you'll do just fine if you have the blankets bungee corded or otherwise secured. There are several folks in mid coast area, and I'm near Bangor. On top bar, go to FORUM, then SOCIAL, then WHERE AM I, WHERE ARE YOU? You'll see a lot of state threads, just scroll down till you find Maine. It's several years old, so you'll have to jump ahead to get to current posts.

 

[aart]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1370/maine

Thank you for the replies! I tried to locate the Maine forum, What is an easy way to find it? We will be moving to the midcoast region, we are originally from up there but my chickies have never experienced the weather up there

We have a large permanent coop here so can't take it unfortunately but we will be housing them in a barn up in Maine. I was thinking of buying them one of those small self contained coops with the nesting area above and placing that inside the barn so they could huddle together for warmth and have the additional protection of the barn. I'm really leary of using a heat lamp in a barn. My littles don't roost they sleep together in a large nesting box

The two Easter eggers roost together. As far as transport I have an XL dog kennel and I was thinking of wrapping it in an old blanket, leaving some small spaces open for ventilation, they will be in the back of a pick up truck, but I think if tucked up close to the cab they shouldn't get much direct wind. I'm just worried they will get cold during the long trip. Praying for a mild weather moving day with no precipitation!