Biosecurity

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
Oh yes! I didn't have any idea either, but have had a hard lesson learned for sure. Bringing home new chicks and chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience as long as it is done with proper measures being taken. It is absolutely essential to quarantine new birds, no matter what age they are. As all of you BYCer's head out to the fall swaps, please just remember to quarantine your birds after you bring them home. May I also suggest that you stand for 10 to 15 minutes and just look at and watch the chicks or chickens behavior before you buy them. Are they sneezing? Are they scratching uncontrollably? Are they peaceful looking or acting annoyed about something? These are all things that can help you pilfer out the sick one BEFORE you even buy the chick or chicken. Once you've made your selection, just be sure to quarantine for extra precaution. Just FYI!

 

[scbirdfarm]

We QUARANTINE for 10 days in that 10 day five of them days we treat the birds to get rid of any bugs. I know how it is not to QUARANTINE it bit us in the butt we bought one bird that killed 200 with a virus 4 years ago. un

QUARANTINE QUARANTINE QUARANTINE QUARANTINE

 

[petitesphinx]

Can they be put in the same coop, but separated by a wall? Or do they need to stay in a large dog crate? My new ones that will not be let go until I know they're safe are about 6 weeks old. They are in a large crate now, but they're cramped. Can we build a mini-wall and keep them contained to that small area where our healthy chickens cannot get to them? Is that pretty safe?

 

[MissPrissy]

They need to be kept as far away as possible. A mini-wall will not stop the spread of disease from new to old.

If you do a search you can read how gumpsgirl lost half her flock from 1 tiny new chick this past summer that was carrying a disease.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Another great post to serve as a very good reminder.

 

[BackSwampGirl]

I hearned the hard way too.We bought 2 little chicks and thought they were ok.Wrong!!! All you have to do is just look at the place and it jumps on your own chiks and ducks too.We lost all but 5 little ducks,1 is limping, and we lost 2 little guienas.And that really hurts so bad.When you watch them falling out like flys.And cann not do anything for them.I have been more careful since.....We hope we never get in this mess again....

 

[australorpchick]

Can anyone tell me how far away is far enough? My 4 chickies board at a horse stable and have their own outdoor stall which is at least 20' x 20'. Most days they are confined to their tractor. At least 2 days a week they get to run around the entire stall for a few hours. Would an XL dog kennel be okay to keep the newbies in?

 

[redhen]

when i brought home 2 silkies from the poultry show this January i brought them in my house, and put them in a rabbit hutch so i could keep an eye on them and keep them far away from my girls outside...and although they were both healthy(lucky), i have decided that i wont take in any more birds that i have noy hatched myself....BUT....i still worry about that because from what i am understanding, even the eggs can carry disease.....

....so, what does everyone do???

 

[sara]

Quote:
I certainly agree for the most part. Swapping isn't my thing. Although rare, there are some breeders that wont sell eggs, or chicks because they grow everything out themselves. So sometimes there is a bird worth the risk, but I'd say that's not the normal case.

 

[spook]

Another conversation on BYC that we had, closed or open flocks, I can see both sides of the coin here. But, with showing and developing your flock for what ever reasons you choose, quarantine!!!!!!!
Even having a second or third coop for quarantine and quarantine after a show, often this is where a lot of contagious germs come from.

For most of us, all in all out works, and then you always have the benefits of swab or blood testing. Relatively inexpensive compared to bringing anything to your own flock.