To move my ladies or not to move.

[EggSighted4Life]

I didn't know that, but seems about right... The land of the free and the home of the brave just ISN'T anymore.

As much as I agree that over regulation can be a problem.

I also fully understand the need to protect our national food supply chain.

It just makes me sad!

You are the one who has to live with your choices.
Only you know your limits. While re-homing seems like the "EASY" choice (responsibility wise)...

When I moved 14 hours to a new location, and property, with different weather patterns... I did re-home my first flock and they did well at their new place. And I got to familiar with our new place and got settled in for the first year.

Honestly, I'm glad I never had to deal with a death in my first flock from age or otherwise. I guess that was one relief for me. And if you have conversations with people, you can discern their true intent. Lot's of tender hearts would be happy to help a few hens.

You might even be able to start making some connections on here!

 

[Mrs. K]

Really it will be much harder on you than on the chickens to leave them. While chickens hate change, they quickly adapt. They are acclimated to your area. Totally different climate and possible diseases clear across the country. So a close move to someone else's coop is going to be much safer, much easier for them. They will be adjusted in less than three or four days.

If you take them it is going to be a highly stressful trip for you and the birds. Being cramped together can cause horrible chicken behaviors. They will be exposed to a new climate, new coop/run, and probably new diseases and in a stressed state very vulnerable to them. Everything will be new and unsettling to them. And I guess I don't see the difference in letting someone in Wyoming have them verses letting your aunt have them more than half way across the country.

I vote leave your Wyoming birds in Wyoming, I think it would be best for them.

Mrs K

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think in your case rehoming them would be the best option. If you had the housing situation set (simply moving from A to B), it might not be such an issue, but sounds like there's a lot of uncertainty and the possibility of up to 4 moves for the flock (from your house, to a temporary one, to aunt's, to another state after) is going to be really stressful for the birds.