Temporary re-home (advice please)

[Amyellen]

I have 3 Ameraucana hens (the last remaining from an original flock of 8) who are 5 years old. They are in a huge coop with an enclosed run, and 3 seasons a year they free-range on my half acre fenced-in yard. They live quite the life! My husband and I are heading to Florida this winter for 3 months so I'm considering asking a friend (a chicken owner) to take them for the time I am gone, so I can have them when I come back. (I'd rather not permanently re-home them because I like my girls and would want them back!) I know it's tricky to integrate flocks, so I'm wondering how this would work, considering after 3 months they would come back home and be just the three of them again. (The alternative is to pay someone to come tend to them daily and dig them out after snowstorms.) Any suggestions/ideas/advice? Thanks!

 

[Blue is my chicken]

Can your friend have them in a separate pen??

What I do is have a friend pet sit but I have a lot of animals and it would not be easy to move them allaand we only go away for a week most so I would opt for them to go to your friends house till you are back

 

[Mrs. K]

Ugh - I would be hesitant to take your 3 five year old hens and mix them with my own. Chickens hate change, and change can be pretty stressful, and a bird at 5 years of age, really could die at any time.

They are going to be the strangers into a new flock, and the home flock won't like that. Does she have a lot of space?

I think I would get a sitter. But even then, know that they might die before you get back.

Mrs k

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Whereabouts in general are you located?

 

[Love Donkeys]

Is there any way you could take your girls with you? I'm sure they would like the warm Florida winters instead of the cold and snow.

 

[Amyellen]

Ugh - I would be hesitant to take your 3 five year old hens and mix them with my own. Chickens hate change, and change can be pretty stressful, and a bird at 5 years of age, really could die at any time.

They are going to be the strangers into a new flock, and the home flock won't like that. Does she have a lot of space?

I think I would get a sitter. But even then, know that they might die before you get back.

Mrs k

Thanks for the insight. appreciate the help.

 

[Amyellen]

Whereabouts in general are you located?

near Worcester, Massachusetts

 

[Love Donkeys]

near Worcester, Massachusetts

Our farm was in North Smithfield when we were first married, a long time ago. I think it's all houses now.