Any tips on moving with a herd/flocks/LGDs/barn cats?

Pearce Pastures

Barn Babe
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
5,315
Reaction score
1,065
Points
383
Location
Hanna, IN
Well the move is done. Too tired yet to say much and will update soon. So far, so good. Chickens freaked out and kept flying into the wire walls. Dogs keep puffing their cheeks and whining, clearly disturbed. Dogs AND goats all want to climb into my lap every time go in the pen to feed and water. All are on lock down---no going outside yet until they seem comfortable with the new barn because I do not want anyone escaping and trying to wander back to the old place.
 

Baymule

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
33,090
Reaction score
98,644
Points
873
Location
East Texas
I know you must be tired. We will be moving too and I can't wait to get there, but it's all the in-between stuff that is not so much fun. We have dogs, chickens and horses to move. Have to build fence once we get done fixing up the inside of the house. There are no improvements on the land, nothing. I wish Santa Claus was real and could drop a barn off his sleigh as he passed by our new place! :gig
 

Pearce Pastures

Barn Babe
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
5,315
Reaction score
1,065
Points
383
Location
Hanna, IN
I have learned some things and while I don't intend to move again, maybe this might help others. Here are some from the first few days.

1) The animals like things that are familiar, either in looks and maybe in scent. Like blankets they slept on or even a bit of the bedding from the old place. The spot I put down the blanket is where the non LGD immediately went to and stayed for the first few days. The hay that came in with the goats and LGDs was promptly made by them into the bed/hangout corner of the new pen. I opened up some new straw and that is fine and well, but the spot where I place the bale that was in their old barn must have a familiar odor or something.

2) The LGDs are anxious and are bickering with each other, chewing on things, and whining. I got them a bunch of chew bones and that seems to have helped.

3) The appetites of these stresses animals is voracious. I would have expected the opposite. Feeders and bowls are being emptied rapidly and they act like they have not been fed for days each time I come in to fill them up.

4) The chickens have stopped laying altogether.
 
Top