Any tips on preventing spread of disease when adding new birds 2 flock

[crazy4eggsJulie]

Just got two new chickens tonight. I brought them home and immediately dusted them with poultry dust and gave them probiotics. I plan to keep them completely separated from my flock for a full week. When I do mix them in, how do I prevent them from spreading anything to my flock? The seller mentioned for us to clean our shoes so that we didn't spread her birds' germs to our birds. But I'm wondering how they aren't going to get those same germs from the actual birds we bought...any information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[redhen]

They need to be seperated for longer than a week. More like a month? maybe more...
Also, feed,water your existing flock FIRST...and then feed the new ones last. So you dont bring disease on your hands and clothes, shoes to your flock.

 

[PurpleChicken]

The birds need to be put in isolation for at least 30 days, not a week. Observe them carefully for nasal discharge, eye issues, strange sounds, poop, etc.. DO NOT medicate the birds in any way other than the dust. If they have something you want it to show symptoms. Finally, many diseases are spread by the handlers. Be wary.

 

[Sillystunt]

Yes, what they said! 30 days, u want to see symptoms not mask them!

 

[lotzahenz]

Everyone on here recommends "quarantine" for a whole month. BUT, I don't think that is enough, how would you know? If your new bird doesn't get "sick" in that month, and is a carrier of a disease, it may be MONTHS before anything shows up. I like the idea of doing a whole month, THEN, allowing only ONE of your flock members to go in with the new bird. IF the old flock member gets sick, then you know to cull both of them and be done. That's the canary theory, and it seems like the safest way to me. That would equal about 2 months of isolation. This is the reason I have decided to not get any new birds unless they are day-old chicks or eggs. And I know, that is also not a for sure thing. There are hours and hours of reading on here about biosecurity, it gets mind boggeling. Best of luck, HenZ

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
I agree with this but doubt many people will actually do it. Another good way to do this would be to use a young packing peanut. Young birds will pick up MG or other diseases much quicker than a full grown one.

I also agree on the eggs or chicks. I will never bring in an older bird again unless I know the flock it's coming from very well.

 

[crazy4eggsJulie]

Okay-I think I have two chicks FOR SALE now!

My flock is perfectly healthy and precious to me. Not worth risking if I can't know for sure! I've got a lot of thinking to do now...

 

[redhen]

Thats why i wont ever take in any adult chickens again..the risk isnt worth it to me.
I'll buy hatching eggs though, because they need to be brooded for a long time anyway..and if they were sick, i'd hopefully see it by the time they were old enough to put with my older flock.. hopefully..

 

[tulie13]

And a week ago everyone seemed to get upset with me saying I didn't want to take 8 pullets in exchange for my 8 roos (hatchery error). I told them that I could not quarantine them, and I was worried about the fact that these pullets have been on antibiotics all their lives. Sure, they may have "never been sick", but if they were medicated the whole time, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW???

Now the guy has offered to bring a cage over and I could keep them separate for a month, then integrate them with my flock. When I posted a question about whether this was a good idea, several people said "sure, go for it". Now I'm not so sure...

I'm thinking about just giving him his roos back and washing my hands of the situation. He seemed like he was ready to do whatever it took to make the exchange, then we got delayed until Saturday (yesterday), then he never called. I called and left him a message 1-1/2 hour after he was supposed to call me Saturday AM, and he still never called back. Maybe that was God saving me from taking these pullets and killing the rest of my flock...

 

[crazy4eggsJulie]

Quote:
I agree 100%. It's not worth it to me. I would not go through with it. I seriously have decided to return these chicks or find someone who wants a project. I wanted these chicks so badly that I just "went for it." Luckily, the people on here were wise enough to make me realize the seriousness of quarantine. I didn't research this first. I have 4 kids. There is NO WAY that we can keep them from touching them for a month or longer and we are not set up to have them in a separate run area anyway. I hear of people buying and selling and trading birds all the time. I thought it was much "safer." My current flock is too important to me to risk.