Right now I have 3 chickens in the house. 1. Brigid the Wonder Chicken has a respiratory infection if unknown origin and is being treat w/antibiotics, anti-fungals, and anti-vi rials. She has 1 more week of treatment. 2. Molly has a prolapsed vent (All better yea!) and now has a secondary bacterial respiratory infection. She is on antibiotics. She is also being kept in the dark, more or less, to discourage egg production until her vent heals. 3. The Friends who gave us Brigid have now given us our newest girl, Fiona. I don't want them to be lonely, but I also don't want any diseases spread back and forth either way. I am also waiting on a worm analysis from Molly's poop. SO here is the question: How close together can I put these girls? I would especially like to keep Molly (Prolapse) and Fiona (new) in the same room, in their own cages, so they can at least talk to each other. I don't worry so much about Brigid, because she hangs out in the main part of the house with the cats and us, and does not stay caged during the day. All advice is definitely appreciated. No one around here quarantines, and I didn't want to ask the people who gave me Fiona, because I didn't want to imply their chickens were unclean Ir whatever.
I don't have a definitive answer (sorry). But, regarding Fiona, how great is the time lapse between obtaining her and Brigid? Fiona could be carrying the respiratory infection just not showing signs? You are asking should you mix prolapsed hen with a hen who you do not know has an infectious disease? My gut reaction is: don't do it - these are two different issues. A prolapse is not contagious; a respiratory infection can be. However, you also point out that Brigid has a secondary infection being treated with anti-b's? My advice still stands: B has presented with an infection which could be passed through air bourne methods. To house her too closely with a hen not showing those signs, could be a potential to pass on the infection. Now to my experience: one of my girls got the sticky eye/respiratory problem. She remained with our flock for a number of days (so, basically still contagious). After much research, I realised I was doing the wrong thing because she could infect my whole flock. She was PTS. Saying that, the reminder of my flock did not contract anything and are as healthy as can be! You'll need to make a judgement call: if you are prepared to risk it, keep them in the same (well ventilated) room at opposite ends. If you are not prepared to take the risk - don't even think about mixing them: yet! Probably not much help, huh
We have had Brigid since August. I went to Dollar general today and bought a sack of newborn baby diapers. So now new girl Fiona can have the run of a bathroom, and Molly can move around in the upstairs bedroom without making a mess. Molly will also have an old cat for company. Whether this will make any difference to either Molly or the cat, I have no clue! So while they have to be apart and lonely, at least they don't have to be confined. I am running out of rooms!
