We might be getting a couple of new girls and I'd like to know how long I should quarantine them before introducing them to the flock. Wash hands, change shoes,...? Is there anything I should look for before bringing them home? I don't want to bring home any diseases or bugs. Thanks.
I am a newbie (only had chickens for a yr.) but am now adding 2 (4month old ) new girls to my flock of 5 (1.5yr old). I left the new girls in their own coop for 35days. During this time, I dusted them and ck'd their legs, eyes, skin, vents and listened very closely to their breathing everyday. I change their feed slowly from what the breeder was feeding to what I feed. I added electrolytes to their water for several weeks... Then on the 35th day, I moved them into the main coop but in their own section, where they stayed during the day and at night they went into a cage inside the coop. After a week, I let them out to free range w/ the big girls (who the little girls are scared to death of)! It's been two weeks and I still don't feel comfy leaving them together 24/7--maybe tomorrow.... Speckled Hen has a great article about this..do a search... Good luck !
