I purchased 7 chicks a few months ago that are now 17 weeks old. There were supposed to be 6 hens and 1 rooster but there turned out to be 2 roosters. Last week, I took one of the roosters back to the same farm I bought all the chicks from and traded it for a 2 year old sex link. I didn't think much of it, and I brought it home and put it right in my flock. They all picked on it quite a bit, but nothing serious. Now I'm reading that I should quarantine this bird because it could spread disease to my whole flock? I've had it for 3 days now. Is it too late to quarantine? Do I absolutely have to quarantine it? (It would be a lot of hassle) What are the chances of it spreading disease to my flock and in what manner should I quarantine it? Can I simply put duramyacen in the water for a few days? Any suggestions will help, I'm very concerned now that I've read about the risk of disease.
Introducing an Adult Bird to a Pullet Flock
- Thread starter kilmon88
- Start date
Quarantining is always a good idea but you can ask the farmer where you got the bird if he's had any problem with disease recently. If you already put the bird in with the others they would have already been exposed to a disease if it had any. I normally keep my birds apart for a day or two but never put a sickly or lethargic bird i buy into the flock. Any hey if the bird looks healthy that's always a good sign too. Best of luck!
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks!
You're welcome!
I don't think quarantining is something you need to worry about since they all came from the same place anyway. They've all been exposed to the same stuff. I think where it's important is when you bring chickens in from a different source - say another farm, and auction, fair, livestock show, etc. Those birds may have been exposed to or are carriers for different diseases and parasites that your birds are used to.
I agree, it's a good strategy to do just incase. It is a pain but will probably be worth your while
- Thread starter
- #7
Do you think it's too late? The new hen has already been all over the run, in the pen, and later eggs in the nesting house. I was going to put antibiotic medicine in the water and hope for the best. Is it still worthwhile to quarantine?
Yes - since she's been with your flock, if she were going to spread any disease, it's already happened. But - like I said before - they're all from the same place anyway, so I'm quite sure you won't have a problem. Did the first ones you got get sick? Show any signs or symptoms of illness? If not, no big deal. If so, I would wonder why you got another one from there. I also don't think the use of antibiotics "just in case" is necessary. They are not a cure-all for everything that could come along, and when used incorrectly, can cause more harm than good by helping create germs that are tolerant to them. Relax. They're fine. Really.
- Thread starter
- #9
I wouldn't be worried at all except the farmer told me that he got the sex link from a friend a few weeks before I traded. Meaning it wasn't raised on the farm where the pullets were. I'm only trying to take precautions cause I've heard of some flocks getting wiped out by newcomers.
That does change things a bit, but if she's already been mixed with the flock, it's too late anyway. If she has parasites, she's already spread them. If she doesn't look or act sick, I still wouldn't worry about it. I think it's better to treat specific symptoms than randomly administer antibiotics just in case. Antibiotics aren't a cure-all for everything, and why give useless treatment for something? If she's been in with his flock and his flock appeared healthy when you went to get her, that's a good sign. Don't sweat it. Just keep an eye on your flock.
Similar threads
New posts New threads Active threads
-
Latest threads
-
-
-
When life gives you roosters, get more roosters- Started by Aithon
- Replies: 0
-
-
-
-
Threads with more replies in the last 15 days
-
-
-
-
Ended Official BYC Poultry Caption Contest 05-23-25 Pic by AidKD- Started by TwoCrows
- Replies: 71
-
Open Contest Waterfowl & Water Photo Contest
- Started by Kiki
- Replies: 69
-
