Thinking about starting a 'chicken rescue'.....

[CrazyChicken Lady]

I really don’t want to kill your dreams, but why would you get rid of the flock you love( also it would be difficult to get rid of 13 birds) to take in some Craigslist hens? I understand what you want to do but it’s a LOT of hassle. And possible contamination of everyone else with the wrong hen.

 

[centrarchid]

Ornamental chickens are generally not considered worth keeping by anyone beyond the first owner. As a result you are taking on a lot and will likely have to be selective and employ quarantine for new birds with limited resources.

I would be picky and invest more in a smaller flock.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Mind if ask why you want to get rid of your current flock?

I've been planning on selling/giving them away for the past couple months as "almost retired laying hens". (the 3 yr olds). And replacing them.... but I feel like it's wrong to get new chicks when I could rescue some other hens to "fill up the space"....
Besides, my TSC doesn't have chicks anymore AND I would rather have hens than more chicks.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've been planning on selling/giving them away for the past couple months as "almost retired laying hens". (the 3 yr olds). And replacing them.... but I feel like it's wrong to get new chicks when I could rescue some other hens to "fill up the space"....
Besides, my TSC doesn't have chicks anymore AND I would rather have hens than more chicks.

You you're getting rid of "almost retired hens" to get "worn out, probably old hens"?

 

[Everose]

I've been planning on selling/giving them away for the past couple months as "almost retired laying hens". (the 3 yr olds). And replacing them.... but I feel like it's wrong to get new chicks when I could rescue some other hens to "fill up the space"....
Besides, my TSC doesn't have chicks anymore AND I would rather have hens than more chicks.

So, I understand, but why go through the hassle of biosecurity and collecting a whole new flock? I understand that you have a new home in mind for your current hens, but they're older and it doesn't really make sense to replace them with older birds.

Not everyone is going to be honest, some people will give you dirt old birds as one year olds, others will knowingly pass off their sick hens. It just doesn't seem worth the risk to me.

I'm sorry that I don't have any suggestions about how you could make it work. It's not something I've done before. I've traded pigs for chickens (got ripped off) and I lost part of my flock because new individuals didn't like each other. There's a lot of things that could go wrong.

 

[LizzzyJo]

If your plan is to help birds that need to be rescued (not ex battery, I hear you), then why not facilitate your church to rescue those other hens? It sounds like, from this plan, that you would be making your church rescue your birds so that you could rescue others. It sounds a bit circular. Like giving your dog to a shelter so that you can adopt one from the pound.

Also, the biosecurity and infrastructure needed for a project like this is no joke.

 

[WIchickMama]

You you're getting rid of "almost retired hens" to get "worn out, probably old hens"?

That is what I was wondering. Why not keep the ladies you have and add to them?

The concept/dream is good but seems contradictory to get rid of the hens you already have.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I won't pile on. But if I was earlier to this thread, I'd have a lengthy post on why its not a wise idea, however much it may feel, emotionally, to be a "good idea".

 

[McChooky]

Finding a farmer who raises chickens who will take your older flock and give you a younger flock you like and only pay the difference might be a better idea.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I’m sorry, but this is a bad idea.
You don’t have the space not proper equipment to quarantine all these different birds you’re bringing in.
And I know you don’t mean battery hens.
It doesn't matter.
Even the glossiest, prettiest hens can bring disease. You'd have to quarantine every individual or group that came in, and your setup won't work for them.
Also, what would you do with them? Sell/rehome them once they're healthy again? Who would buy them? You'd be stuck with them - you'd have given away your happy flock for a group of strange, separated hens who probably won't be laying.