Taking chickens from a farm to my backyard

[Jenjens]

Hi,

So I am adding 2 pullets to my flock of 4 hens and 1 rooster. I saw an ad on craigslist that they have plenty of pullets for sale and I inquired and am planning on picking them up soon. I looked up the address and saw that they are actually from a farm. A good sized farm. I am now starting to feel guilty because they will be going from a farm with plenty of space to a small backyard. I really don't know what I am expecting from you guys here, but I just needed to let it out. I am unsure now what to do. I would feel like I would be giving them a more boring life.

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I think adding 2 chickens that know each other to your flock is better than adding a loner, so that will help integration go more smoothly.

In answer to your question, it depends on how you and the farmer keep your chickens... If you are the type to give your chickens fun treats like cabbages and mealworms, it might be more fun to a chicken than a farm with a lot of other hens to compete with. And some farms do keep their chickens in small runs to avoid predation, so your space might actually be bigger per chicken. Or the pullets might be on the cull list for whatever reason and might end up as dinner if they aren’t sold. I can see a lot of ways that a city chicken might be happier than a farm chicken.

You could ask the seller how they are kept and make your decision from there.

 

[RojoMarz]

The farm may have had plenty of space, but do you know if the chickens actually did? Also, 'farm' chickens likely are not pets and typically would not have as much human interaction as 'backyard/pet' chickens will. The girls will be fine. They will adjust to their new neighborhood, house and friends.

 

[Jenjens]

I guess that's true. I do spoil them with treats (I grow some veggies and raspberries and I haven't eaten any lol) and I guess living on a farm can be stressful with other animals around and visitors. (And most likely more dirty) Maybe it would be better for them because it would be more peaceful and they would (hopefully) feel loved. That seems to make sense.

I went on their facebook page, but couldn't find any pictures of chickens, just baby animals and baby chicks (which they rent out to people....?) so I won't know their living environment until I get there. But thank you guys for your replies, I actually am starting to think less space doesn't mean a worse life, because they will be my little girls and I will treat them like pets not livestock.

 

[aart]

(And most likely more dirty)

I'd worry more about what pests and diseases they might bring with them.
Consider biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

 

[LaFleche]

I went on their facebook page, but couldn't find any pictures of chickens, just baby animals and baby chicks (which they rent out to people....?) so I won't know their living environment until I get there.

I go with @aart and would not take any poultry that was lent out to different keepers/environments collecting all the germs and bacteria.

And even if these pullets have not been lent out before, they surely have been exposed to all the germs and bacteria that were brought back in by the lease poultry/pets when the lease would end and they were brought back to the farm.

This is a health hazard I would not be willing to take.