Adopting Ex-Battery Farm Hen Question

[silkiechickens8]

I'm getting 8-10 ex-batts on Thursday and am worried about bringing in diseases. How long should I quarantine? Any advice on things I can do to prevent a disease outbreak? Thanks!

 

[QueenMisha]

Considering the sorts of conditions they have been kept in, I would say quarantine MINIMUM 4 weeks and preferably 6-8. Definitely use a canary or even two from your own flock.

 

[silkiechickens8]

Is there anything else I can do other than putting one of my existing birds in with them and see if the get sick? I don't know if I could do that I love them all! Thanks for the answer on the quarantine. I'll probably try to keep them separate for 8 weeks. Thanks!

 

[QueenMisha]

It's the safest option. You can't use an outside bird - because you can't guarantee its health. Not using a canary risks infection if the ex-bats do have something and remain asymptomatic (not particularly likely but plenty possible). Better to lose one or two birds than an entire flock.