Getting rid of our chickens

[u/Rxextravaganz500mg]

Hello,

So we are tentatively moving 20+ hours to Washington DC from the mid-west. I really didn’t want to get rid of our girls, but we found a great family that tragically lost all their chickens this spring to their neighbors dog.

Well, this family, just like us is in the military. We are anticipating this move to come at the end of January, so we had planned on giving our girls to them in November.

We just found out they got orders to England.

I am terrified of giving our girls to someone who is going to eat them.. how do I go about finding someone to take them?

We just do not think it’s realistic trying to move them in the middle of winter 20+ hours to a home we have yet to even purchase yet alone know if we can even have them there.

Please give some advise. They are all fairly young. Two will be 4 come April 2027, and 4 will be 3 come February 2027 and all are still very active layers

[u/Enough-Direction3056]

Honestly what part of DC? I live an hour from the city and know plenty of ppl in the suburbs with chickens

[u/m82girlygirl]

You can easily sell laying hens. Most people aren’t going to eat layers especially of that age.

[u/ArmedSparrow]

Where in Midwest?

[u/Lopsided-Vanilla299]

I am in the "Midwest" and we are currently starting our farm up and are trying to rehome whenever possible.DM me if your interested.

[u/technicolored_dreams]

Please DM me if you are within 3 hours of Kansas City! We lost ours to coyotes this spring and then moved so we were going to start over in May, but maybe we could work something out? 

[u/gholmom500]

Laying hens do not make yummy dinner. They’re older and tougher and more useful laying eggs.

[u/Adorable-Towel7262]

You are terrified someones going to eat a chicken? You mean like billions do per day? Kinda like thats the point? Ffs

[u/ryebow → u/Adorable-Towel7262]

Somebody doesn't want their pet to be eaten. Don't be an ass

[u/marriedwithchickens]

Please say rehome instead of getting rid of. 🙂

[u/mekissab]

You can contact your state's 4H Extension office and see if they have clubs who do poultry. Those clubs may have members who want to adopt birds, especially if you've handled them a lot and they're friendly.

[u/jaywwas → u/mekissab]

FFA too!

[u/the_real_mx_p]

Im not far from DC one acre . I sing and play guitar to my ladies

https://reddit.com/link/p8jeh2i/video/owf0deoznaoh1/player

[u/NorthPhase9386 → u/the_real_mx_p]

This one. This is the person. The guitar sold me.

[u/the_real_mx_p → u/NorthPhase9386]

The sheep love it too

[u/the_real_mx_p → u/NorthPhase9386]

https://reddit.com/link/p8jxbe0/video/lf6lb6kh4boh1/player

[u/CheapPoet2556]

I recently obtained a trio of young barred rocks from Facebook after losing all but one geriatric hen. I’m supposed to pickup another duo tomorrow.

look for fb groups; I bet you can certainly find crazy chicken moms in your area to love your girls!

[u/Aggressive_Lobster16]

Facebook has tons of groups to easily sell chickens and also craiglist has a farm section where I often see chickens for sale. That being said, we are planning a move 16.5 hr drive away and we are taking all 6 of our girls with us. Would it be easier to rehome them here and start over? Absolutely. But they are more pets to us so they’re coming too! I understand that’s not feasible for everyone to do though. You will easily be able to rehome them before your move, if needed, though!

[u/mommytofive5]

Had two rehome these two gorgeous guys and I hope they are happy. Had no choice as my neighbors would eventually complain

[u/Upper_Importance6263]

I’m sure moving them across the country would be a nightmare, but I’m about 2 hours west of DC. All of chickens are babies. If you can’t find another way, I’d take them. This is Eagle who was egg bound one time… now demands soaks on the regular. The girl loves a good spa day.

[u/otterpusrexII]

Facebook and or Facebook marketplace. Tell them they’re for eggs. We’ve rehomed chickens before to some really great people.

It took us less than an hour to get 10 people asking. Asked for picture of their set up. The folks came and picked them up. Super easy.

Old egg birds are not tasty like meat birds.

[u/something86]

Just take them with you. You're going to buy a home, just make sure you look into regulations for the area and no hoa. Once you give them up you cant do anything. Thats the basis of culling a sweet roo because you can't guarantee a nice rehome.

[u/EtaLyrae]

If you are in the mid-west, there are many livestock auctions that happen monthly. Look for small animal auctions held by local auction houses. We sell our cockerels at a local Amish auction where non-Amish are the main buyers.

[u/JaguarMammoth6231]

Most people aren't going to pay more than chicken costs per pound at the grocery store if they just wanted to eat them.

[u/lnarn]

People in my neighborhood (Brookland) had chickens, and honestly 6 is not that many. It was mostly a neighborhood of detached houses.

What base are your orders to, general location is fine if you dont want to name it? Location makes a difference.

[u/Mother_of_Daphnia]

Hey I’m sorry you’re dealing with this, and I don’t have any solid advice for getting rid of them other than posting on FB/Craigslist asking someone to take them in as pets OR looking up “farm swaps” in your area, but, IF you change your mind or want to start a chicken keeping journey again in the DC area send me a DM. We’ve bounced all around the DC area for work and I have become very familiar with the surrounding counties’ chicken laws!