I just recently lost my best layer to my friend's dog. My little bitty flock is down to 2. I am worried about how cold they will be with out their "big mama". I was considering buying a few 10 month old hens since I don't want to have pullets in the house this late in the year.
Here are my hesitations:
1. How long do I need to seperate them (quarintine)? I don't have much space and only one coop. I could put them in a wire dog run during the day but during the night...?
2. I read horror stories of cooties being brought into the current flock and I freak out!
How common are things that wipe out or make your hens ill?
3. It's been 3 days since we lost our girl, is it too soon to bring on another set of ladies?
And then off the topic, is there anything that I need to be doing now that it's winter for my ladies to keep them comfortable? They have a hen house with no direct drafts but there is no source of heat. They are our free in the yard for the rest of the day.
Thanks so much,
~S
Here are my hesitations:
1. How long do I need to seperate them (quarintine)? I don't have much space and only one coop. I could put them in a wire dog run during the day but during the night...?
2. I read horror stories of cooties being brought into the current flock and I freak out!
3. It's been 3 days since we lost our girl, is it too soon to bring on another set of ladies?
And then off the topic, is there anything that I need to be doing now that it's winter for my ladies to keep them comfortable? They have a hen house with no direct drafts but there is no source of heat. They are our free in the yard for the rest of the day.
Thanks so much,
~S
