4 or 5 week old wild hen caught , what to do next

[Dinero0427]

Hello, a month ago I saw a hen and Roo well summers with about 10 baby chicks walking around in a neighborhood where I just purchased a house to rent out , it’s a neighborhood where chickens aren’t exactly allowed and within the last month I’ve seen the chicks disappear, also the mother and father ...there is a lot of traffic around there and today there there were 2 roosters left and 1 hen from the 10 baby’s. They actually went in my yard of the house i purchased and my husband caught baby the hen. We decided to take it home to our chickens but I’m not exactly sure if this was a good Idea , do you think she’s better off back where she came from or with my flock ? Im keeping her separate right now and I recently got 2 BCMs and 2 O.Es who are 8 weeks now to go with my 1 year old Americana who isn’t getting along too well with them. The well summer is about 4 weeks. When should I mix them together or should I return her ?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

There is always risk bringing in another adult chicken into the flock. You are wise to separate her, but be aware, true quarantine is nearly impossible to achieve in a home setting, so there is risk. (You need a hazmat suit, bubble tent, and clean room techniques to avoid exchanging viruses.)

Check her over for parasites, internal and external, as you don't want to treat the whole flock. I'd actually treat her as a matter of course for mites and worms since she was in the wild. Good news she is from your neighborhood so likely has the same coccidia strain so shouldn't create a problem there, same true for viral, but that is a consideration. She could be a carrier of MG (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacteria that causes essentially chronic chicken asthma), which you don't want in the flock, but it is mostly manageable but would prevent you selling or re-homing any. Industry is an all in/all out standard so that you don't bring in unknown flock for that reason. But if this is just your backyard hobby, with some precaution, you may be able to integrate her knowing there is a risk.

If she looks healthy, no runny nose, eyes bright, no lesions, no cough or sneezing, then at 4 weeks you could consider her quarantine over.

She will fare much better with you than on her own in the neighborhood. It is a hard life for feral animals.

LofMc

 

[Sequel]

That was very kind of you to offer her a home. I would not release her, if she isn't a good fit with your flock perhaps someone else needs her? We have a local poultry group via Facebook and they're always rehoming single gals, lol

 

[Dinero0427]

There is always risk bringing in another adult chicken into the flock. You are wise to separate her, but be aware, true quarantine is nearly impossible to achieve in a home setting, so there is risk. (You need a hazmat suit, bubble tent, and clean room techniques to avoid exchanging viruses.)

Check her over for parasites, internal and external, as you don't want to treat the whole flock. I'd actually treat her as a matter of course for mites and worms since she was in the wild. Good news she is from your neighborhood so likely has the same coccidia strain so shouldn't create a problem there, same true for viral, but that is a consideration. She could be a carrier of MG (Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a bacteria that causes essentially chronic chicken asthma), which you don't want in the flock, but it is mostly manageable but would prevent you selling or re-homing any. Industry is an all in/all out standard so that you don't bring in unknown flock for that reason. But if this is just your backyard hobby, with some precaution, you may be able to integrate her knowing there is a risk.

If she looks healthy, no runny nose, eyes bright, no lesions, no cough or sneezing, then at 4 weeks you could consider her quarantine over.

She will fare much better with you than on her own in the neighborhood. It is a hard life for feral animals.

LofMc

Thank you for your response, but she’s not an adult she’s only 4 or 5 weeks old. Do you think it’s still ok to leave her by herself for that long ? Also what are the risks of me handling her since she was in the wild ? Is there anything I can give her to clear her if she has anything ? She does seem very very healthy

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Some feel it is good to have a "sacrificial" friend with a lonely only in isolation.

However since she is from the wild, that may be comforting or distressful. I should think her flock instinct would override her unfamiliarity with a new friend.

You could use the isolation time to tame her and closely bond with her. Otherwise, she may be a serious flight risk.

LofMc

 

[Dinero0427]

Some feel it is good to have a "sacrificial" friend with a lonely only in isolation.

However since she is from the wild, that may be comforting or distressful. I should think her flock instinct would override her unfamiliarity with a new friend.

You could use the isolation time to tame her and closely bond with her. Otherwise, she may be a serious flight risk.

LofMc

I have been doing this and she actually fell asleep I’m my hands today but once I put her back in her separate coop she started screaming , she does not like to be alone and I feel so bad because I don’t know what else I can do for her right now

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Do you have another hen to put with her. One that is very gentle? That is what I meant by sacrificial friend...one that might catch something from her but would give comfort.

But of course if she is afraid of all your hens that won't be comforting.

LofMc