I know how you're supposed to add hens to regular flocks... 60 days quarantine... slow integration.... But I also know that's not reality for people with a TINY flock of 2-3 hens. I'm interested in how you handle it.
I had 3 hens years ago. When they got old two eventually died and I was left with one I had to give her away to a friend because she thought she was a rooster. (Long story... don't ask LOL). As weird as that all turned out it allowed me to start over from scratch.
I then got 3 chicks. Here I am four years later and one hen died recently so I'm left with two 4-year-old hens. I'd like to add two more so I'm up to 4 total. The reality is I have nowhere to quarantine hens at all. I have one chicken coop and one run, so quarantining isn't an option. I know plenty of people gasp at this and say I'm putting my 2 hens' lives at risk by integrating without quarantining, but I simply don't have anywhere to quarantine other chickens.
So WWYD?
Just get the 2 hens (who are from a very reputable local dealer) and bung them in with your existing hens at night and hope it all works out? Or what?
What do tiny flock owners do?
Thanks all!
I had 3 hens years ago. When they got old two eventually died and I was left with one I had to give her away to a friend because she thought she was a rooster. (Long story... don't ask LOL). As weird as that all turned out it allowed me to start over from scratch.
I then got 3 chicks. Here I am four years later and one hen died recently so I'm left with two 4-year-old hens. I'd like to add two more so I'm up to 4 total. The reality is I have nowhere to quarantine hens at all. I have one chicken coop and one run, so quarantining isn't an option. I know plenty of people gasp at this and say I'm putting my 2 hens' lives at risk by integrating without quarantining, but I simply don't have anywhere to quarantine other chickens.
So WWYD?
Just get the 2 hens (who are from a very reputable local dealer) and bung them in with your existing hens at night and hope it all works out? Or what?
What do tiny flock owners do?
Thanks all!