Speaking of moving. . .

[Toetwo]

Is it crazy to move (six) chickens from one home to another, and back again? And again? And again? With anywhere from three weeks to five months between moves? We have a chicken sitter for when we go to our home base, but I do miss them. Having read various threads, I am pretty much convinced it isn't worth stressing them but thought I'd ask, anyway.

 

[teach1rusl]

I think it depends on the chickens, and on your expectations. I have a few very people oriented birds who I think would dip fine traveling back and forth every few months...they seem very adaptable. But I have others in my flock who wouldn't be happy at all - it'd be very distressing for them...at least for a few weeks. I do think they would get used to it to the point where it'd stress them less each time...because they would most likely remember the place after the move back. If you don't mind a lack of eggs, I'd think it could be done with a SMALL flock. If you have flighty birds in your flock rather than very docile, calm breeds, I'd think it would be rather hard on them...

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I had to evacuate 43 chickens (8 mature hens and 35 juvenile FR meat birds) last summer due to a forrest fire. I can say the move was stressful for everyone but after 9 days of being housed in my sister-in-law's garage and attached dog run, we moved the hens back home and the FRs to a "foster" home until the weather changed and brought lots of rain. Then the FRs came back home as well.

Egg production was down for the time we were at my sister-in-laws, but we didn't lose any of our birds during the evacuation. I did have one Jersey Giant hen who I was treating for sour crop in a separate crate in the cool of the garage when we got the manditory evacuation notice. She had to be piled in with the rest of the birds, and while I tried to continue to treat her during the evacuation, I couldn't give her as much personal attention. She died about a week after we got home. Who knows if she would have died anyway, but the stress couldn't have helped.

I agree with the person who posted above that this will add some stress to your hens, but if you are moving them from one well built, familiar coop to another, and they are used to being handled, they will probably adjust OK, but your egg production will probably suffer.

 

[RedfogsFlock]

We moved ALL our birds (chickens & ducks, dogs, & fish) from AZ to IN. Then 6 months later back again. We just put em 2 by 2 in dog carriers and away we went. Made sure they had food and water, not once did anyone stress. When we stopped at hotels we let the ducks have baths. Let the chickens loose in the bathroom while we cleaned their kennels. Oh and we still got our eggs every morning so we'd leave them as 'gifts' from the girls on the counters. Ha ha NOTE we left roosters in our suv at night but only after he got his free bathroom roam time too. Just be sure to clean your tub out & any droppings or mess left by your birds.

 

[Toetwo]

I might have to go to NH and have a chat with them. . .. ;-)
Thanks. Food for thought as this will be an on-going question for us.

 

[Toetwo]

Talk about stress! I am sorry to hear you lost your Jersey Black. Thank you for your feedback. Especially the possible assurance that if the coops are familiar. . ..

 

[Toetwo]

Oops, I see all my responses are coming up; should have responded to all at once. Thank you for all your advise. I guess I'll just have to toss caution to the wind and make a decision. And I'm a libra. Funny story about the hotel! Now for the question of the naked neck. Lola, a lone bantam in a mixed flock of 6, has no more feathers on her neck.

Is it that she's entirely henpecked? Or too popular with Big Red, our rooster. He has, after all, ONLY five hens. I have looked at the others. CooLots (second from the bottom) has a little bit of lost feathers. Panda (top gal) and Ping entirely fine. Ditto Chipper.

Is it okay to mix questions like this? I am new to the backyard. . . and have SO many questions!

Thanks again!