Best time to get young birds- before or after moving

[Lucylou]

Mt little flock has dwindled to 3 & they are 'getting on a bit' now, bless them, so egg production has also dropped.

We are planning to move house as soon as we can find one we like (& can afford!!) which we had hoped would be Spring, I was then going to get some young birds to increase the happy band & we would all settle into the new house! It now seems unlikely we'll be in that position until much later (late summer possibly).

What do you all think would be the best thing to do - get my young ones now in the Spring & then move everyone to the new house (I had wanted to avoid too many disruptions for the new birds) or wait & although it will be late in the season, get my new ones when we're in the new place, thus avoiding chopping & changing for old & new birds? BTW Chooks & humans will have new houses as I can't move the existing coup.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

 

[Marigold]

I would wait until after your move. The fewer hens you have to move, the easier it will be in practical terms - you could keep 3 old birds more easily in temporary accommodation for a few days if necessary whilst you sort ourself out, and they wouldn't take up much room in an overloaded car! Then get the newbies when you are all sorted and ready for them. Also, if you get POL pullets at the end of the summer or Autumn, they should come into lay by October and keep going all winter, when your older birds may have stopped.

 

[chrismahon]

I agree with Marigold Lucylou. Having moved all our birds twice now any increase in numbers makes the job a whole lot harder. We moved ours in dog cages which come in various sizes. The largest we have will just take 6 hens but wouldn't fit in a car. The smallest we have will just go in our car boot and only takes one. Even at this stage you need to be planning the process well ahead to work out just how you will move the three you have now. The process is pretty simple as you are not taking the existing coop and run with you. Their new coop and run needs to be in place at the new house or they will need to go into temporary accommodation as Marigold says. You are going to be very busy leading up to and after the move so that may be your best option. Birds are certainly best moved at night to minimise stress (illness can follow otherwise) and then putting the birds into the new coop and run before dawn. I used an LED headlamp to do all the work at night and carried spare batteries, because you need both hands free carrying chickens, even when they are sleepy.

 

[Lucylou]

Thank you both for your advice. hadn't thought of the practicalities :roll: Luckily we aren't going to be moving very far, hopefully no more than half an hour car drive & I do have a dog crate (good tip)
I have been concerned about the stress factor as one of the POL I bought a few years ago went into a complete moult after a couple of days at home which I put down to stress & I don't want this to happen if I can avoid it.

Will probably be back for more advice when the time comes
Thanks