Highways and Hens: The Road Trip to River Jordan Farm

It all started with a dream, our trusty Tacoma, an old 2-horse trailer, and a whole lot of rescued feathered friends. Picture this: 30 hens, 3 roosters, and 3 ducks—all rescued since 2020 (including our wise 8-year-old hen, Ephie)—ready for a new start at River Jordan Farm. The catch? The farm was 2,000 miles away in Virginia. 

Seed, Olsen, and Mulder stretching their legs after a long drive.

In the weeks leading up to the move, we kept a document with all of our birds listed, and we assigned our chickens to pairs or small groups based on their little quirks, beefs, and personalities. Thanks to the generous community of Two Mom Sanctuary, we had enough dog kennels for each grouping to call home for the ride, stocked with fresh coconut bedding, rabbit waterers (which did not end up working haha), and treats. The night before our big move, we packed them into their crates then stacked and secured them into the horse trailer. The next day, the adventure began.

Over a 2,000-mile journey from Utah to Virginia, our trailer became a moving sanctuary for our flock. Twice a day, we stopped to check on the birds, feeding them, topping up water, and letting them stretch their legs in a dog exercise pen at rest stops and parks. The ducks even got their respite of refreshment with a bucket of fresh water each day.

Not every moment was picture-perfect. We had a day in Nebraska when 50 mph winds and a scorching 90-degree heat wave reminded us that nature can always thwart the best laid plans. Then there were our new roosters, whom we’d just met the day before we left—they stayed safely in their kennels because we quickly learned they were a bit too flighty to be let out at rest stops. 

Four days on the road later, we finally arrived in Virginia. The moment we let the chickens out, it was like they knew they were home. Every mile, every bump, and every unexpected twist of the road led us here, without a single flock casualty, and those experiences will always be part of River Jordan Farm’s story.

Stay tuned for more—next up, we’ll share the first two weeks of life on the farm with our new livestock guardian dog protecting the flock amongst a slew of new predators, unknown terrain, and a growing farm. Leave any comments or questions here or on our instagram @riverjordanfarmva <3

Scroll through our gallery to see the highs, lows, and everything in betweens of our cross-country chicken caper.