Bringing in new chickens

[MarlaMac]

I have a healthy, disease free flock of 14 hens plus a rooster. All Black Australorps. I desperately want to add blues to my flock.

It is quite the ordeal to find them here in Central Texas. I cannot find either hatching eggs (I have broodies that could hatch them out) or day or chicks.

Nothing.

I did find 3 2 1/2 month old pullets that someone is selling. I don't know the person who is selling them nor the conditions under which the pullets live.

My question is how big of a risk is bring in chickens of this age to integrate with my flock. I would keep them separate for several weeks to allow them to grow a bit and to make sure they have no health issues, but they would have to be kept close to my main coop.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Debbie292d]

Quarantining like you suggest is always recommended. One thing though is with Marek's disease, it's nearly impossible to quarantine them far enough since the dust/dander from infected chickens can travel five miles.

I think it's a given that quarantining is otherwise important to determine if the incoming chickens have AI, a respiratory infection, mites, or anything else abnormal prior to putting them with our current flock. Thus, you'll not want them close to yours if you can prevent it. There's a little more to it though.

This lady explains it well:

 

[MarlaMac]

Yeah, Marek's is my biggest concern. I think I will pass and keep looking for day olds or hatching eggs.

Thanks!