Adding New Roo to Flock: Questions about Bio-Security

[Shannonwbl]

We are going to look at a 2-3 mth old cochin roo to add to our mixed flock of 12 hens and I have a couple of questions. We have only added to our flock by purchasing and raising day old chicks. I know that I will need to quarantine him for a month but....

1) Aside from the obvious clean environment, appearance of other birds is there anything I should look for when we go to check him out?

2) If we do bring him home he will be housed in our starter coop which is currently about 20ft away from where I keep our hens. Is that far enough away? At what point can they meet through an electric poultry fence?

3) In an effort to prevent any trouble, should I worm him or anything during his quarantine time?

I want to be as careful as I can to protect my healthy flock.

Thanks guys!

 

[fordmommy]

I don't have an answer, but those are very good questions!

 

[patandchickens]

Two things to look for that not everybody remembers are 1) look for evidence of scaly leg mites (misshapen, enlarged areas on [well really underneath] the scales on the legs; and 2) be alert for hearing any other poultry on the property sneezing, even if it isn't the one you're
there for.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[speckledhen]

They should not be able to get close to each other at all, so they are really not breathing the same immediate air. Things you should do in quarantine are worm and treat for lice/mites. What you should NOT do is give any antibiotics at all. Listen for breathing problems, watch for discharge from any cavity/eyes/ears/nares (nostrils). Check for bumblefoot and scaly leg mites. Just observe and get to know him. Keep him away from the girls for at least 30 days, if not an extra week. Hopefully, if he has anything, it will surface and you can be spared the mistake of putting him with your flock.

 

[Shannonwbl]

Great advice. I am going to look up pics of mites/scale and bumblefoot just so I will know what I am looking for. What do you use to treat for lice/mites and to worm. I know there are many differing opinions. The thought of mites justs give me the "heebies"

 

[Monk]

Quote:
I was curious also, here's a site and pic of bumblfoot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblefoot_(infection)

 

[Judy]

Another thing you can do is pick a "sacrifice chicken" and put her in with the new one, at the end of quarantine, or some on here do this after three weeks if they have seen no sign of illness. In a couple of weeks, if your original chicken is fine, chances are the new one is safe. Quarantine is important but doesn't reveal everything.

 

[Shannonwbl]

Quote:
Oh my! Great idea, but I can just imagine the conversation with my family. We each have a few hens that we have claimed as our own. I guess we could have a thumb wrestling tournament. Loser sacrifices their bird

.

 

[SportTees]

Quote:
Good point

 

[Shannonwbl]

We got our roo today! He is a 12 wk partridge cochin. My son has named him "King Richard, I" - there is a story on the name, but you might be able to figure that out.

The breeder had a good set-up, and all the birds looked healthy. He looks good and I couldn't see any signs of mites/lice or anything, but I gave him and his coop a spray of premethrin and a good dusting of DE just in case.

Based on suggestions on this and other posts here is my plan:

Treat with Wazine (I assume there will be instructions for amounts on the package?) Then wait 7 days and treat with ivermectin. Wait another 7 days and treat again with ivermectin. Question: I looked for ivermectin for poultry, but no luck. I have paste wormer for my horses can I use that, and if so how much?

Vitamine/electrolyte in his water for a couple of days along with apple cider vinegar.

Keep him quarantined for 30 days, add sacrifice chicken, wait a week then meet the girls!

Am I missing anything?