Traveling chickens

[honbon74]

So we are going to start trying to slowly move to a property 2 hours away that will have plenty of room for all my feathery and fur babies. But for a while we wouldn’t be staying there permanently, just for weekends. Is it crazy to put my flock of 11 on a trailer in crates and haul them back and forth with us when we go? Do you think they are capable of acclimating to a second coop/run? Thanks for any input

 

[cmom]

You can move the birds back and forth but for the most part chicken like a routine and they would probably adjust after a few trips back and forth. The traveling could disrupt their laying habits. Since you are only going to the new place on the weekends, can someone look after the birds on the weekends. I did that with a neighbor watching their chickens, dogs and goats while they were away. luck and have fun...

 

[rosemarythyme]

I agree with cmom, I would keep them at your current home for the time being (with either someone checking on them during weekends, or if your set up is automated enough you can probably get by without a caretaker) and then once you're ready to move to the new property, move them at that time.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, your birds are not going to like traveling- it will be a huge stressor on them, and they are going to get very cage shy, making it harder and harder to crate them up, maybe start up some ugly chicken habits.

Just get a feeder, and a multi gallon waterer and leave them until you are ready for a permanent move.

Mrs . K

 

[cmom]

I have some waterers that are 6.5 gallons. I have one coop that doesn't have an auto waterer. Once a week I clean it and fill it. I have 40# feeders in the coops that I fill once a week, but I have a lot more birds to deal with. Years ago I did some traveling and I had a fellow who would look after the birds when I was gone. Unfortunately he passed away.