adding to flock.. chicks vs. started pullets?

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
I think this definitely helps, especially if the person will let you come and see their operation and ask lots of questions - like whether any of these birds go to shows....


Quote:
that kind of thing is exactly why you're not likely to ever find ME, let alone my chickens, near a bird show. i just can't trust hundreds of other random bird showers with the health of MY chickens.

But you also have to think that some of the best breeders in the country go to shows all of the time, and if this were true all of the time do you think they would be the best birds? They wouldn't have a flock because they would all be dead.... there are a few people that might take questionable birds but almost all of the time these are people that want to furhter their breed, and expand their knowledge, and want to show off their birds to others with the same type and calliber of bird. I prefer started pullets but you will have to keep them quarentined for at least 4 weeks. That is about 30 days. GOOD LUCK!!

oh, i definitely see the appeal. but my brain goes into hyperdrive on the risk statistics and all the unknown variables involved. i just can't handle it. i guess i would be more likely to go to certain shows. in a town near me, they sometimes have sort of a "chicken flea market," and i'm definitely not going near that.

 

[TK Poultry]

Quote:
I think this definitely helps, especially if the person will let you come and see their operation and ask lots of questions - like whether any of these birds go to shows....



that kind of thing is exactly why you're not likely to ever find ME, let alone my chickens, near a bird show. i just can't trust hundreds of other random bird showers with the health of MY chickens.

But you also have to think that some of the best breeders in the country go to shows all of the time, and if this were true all of the time do you think they would be the best birds? They wouldn't have a flock because they would all be dead.... there are a few people that might take questionable birds but almost all of the time these are people that want to furhter their breed, and expand their knowledge, and want to show off their birds to others with the same type and calliber of bird. I prefer started pullets but you will have to keep them quarentined for at least 4 weeks. That is about 30 days. GOOD LUCK!!

oh, i definitely see the appeal. but my brain goes into hyperdrive on the risk statistics and all the unknown variables involved. i just can't handle it. i guess i would be more likely to go to certain shows. in a town near me, they sometimes have sort of a "chicken flea market," and i'm definitely not going near that.

We have a chicken flea market thing I like to go sometimes, but never touch and NEVER bring anything home been there done that, but i just wanted to give the positive of shows not just a few horror stories from shows. I think the best thing is to QUARINTINE, QUARINTINE, QUARINTINE (spelling??). I'm planning on going to a show in April, I'm not a bit afraid of anything happening to my ducks or hen.

 

[Kittymomma]

A dog crate in the basement wouldn't be enough room. You would probably end up with them pecking at each other and the stress of it all would make them more likely to get sick. A dog crate as a temp. coop inside a 4x4 dog run with a piece of old plywood and a tarp over top for protection from the weather works great--that's my redneck quarantine "coop." It's not really pretty, but it gets the job done and you can usuall find dog runs on CL for a reasonable price. The small 4x4 runs are particularly common around here, I think it's 'cause folks get them and then their puppy grows up a bit and they realize they need to go bigger. The other advantage to this set-up is that it makes a great chicken jail, chicken hospital, broody pen, and grow out pen depending on what your needs are at any given time.

 

[Sue271161]

Hi,
Im new to all this & was wondering if you could help. My husband has built a lovely covered run & we have a coop inside for upto 6 birds. We bought 4 18wk pullets this Sunday gone & I now wish I got 2 more! As it has only been a few days, could I add 2 more?

Thank for your help
Sue

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
You'll get more responses if you start a new thread, but I'd say not without some extra work.

Even though they are in a new spot they won't readily accept new birds and you really should quarantine any new arrivels for a month anyhow. If you're planning on getting two more from the same place as the others I wouldn't worry about quarantine and integration may go easier too. Adding new birds usually works best if they are penned next to each other (see, but can't touch) for a week or more. After that I usually put them together and watch. There will be chasing and pecking, but if it goes pretty well--no blood, and chasing isn't constant, I'll put them all together at bedtime. I like to do this when I can be home the next morning just in case things get out of hand.

 

[bigstack]

You can add chickens any time. You just have to be careful of disease transfer. the birds will have to establish the pecking order. (who is top Dog) They will almost always be a lil pecking and small scuffels. But just be sure to watch out for problems in this area. As I said they will almost always scuffel but it should not be all out warfare. It should be over relatively quickly. the birds old and new will test one another off and on. BUT there should not be any BIG brawls. If you see all the birds picking on 1. you may need to step in. But most of the time they will just do a lil pushing and shoving, alot of screaming. LOL and maybe a lil pecking. Once every one knows their place it should be pretty peaceful.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[bigstack]

and what Kitty said! LOL