Building up the flock with rescued hens !

[Minister Marc C]

Just received 5 new hens. (Rhode Island reds..?) It's hard to tell, they are sort of young, maybe 4 mos.)
They were a sort of a rescue from someone who had WAY too many crammed into too small of a coop

They are missing a good deal of feathers around the neck area, down their backs and across the top part of their wings,
(these would be the "coverts" & the "secondaries). Plus all 5 of them are under-weight.
Compared to our Buff Orpingtons and our Black Sex-Links, they look like refuge's from 'camp Chernobyl' !
So ~ I gave em all a good dusting with[diatomaceous earth] and the duster-"poofer" thing (applicator),
((they actually seemed to like this)) I did this just in case they had any ''mites'' or anything like that.
I also dust the entire inside of the coop, their perches, nests, essentially everywhere they go.
Our chicken coop is (not) mobile, nor do our chickens free-range. (Too many predators around us)..
So we have to keep their coop & yard clean and cleaning it regularly ensures that they DON'T get sick or pestered with pests!
We fed and watered them They gobbled-up everything we gave em, they stood around the water-fount like it was
"Happy Hour" at the local Tavern -- So it shouldn't be long before they fatten up, and fill in their "baldy-spots" !

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Their bald spots won't fill in till they molt which should be in the next month or so depending on where you live.

I hope you quarantine them before introducing them to your primary flock.

 

[Brooks_]

I hope you quarantine them before introducing them to your primary flock.

Agreed. As much as I want new and different birds, 100% closed here.

 

[blackdog043]

So we have to keep their coop & yard clean and cleaning it regularly ensures that they DON'T get sick or pestered with pests!

Bringing adult birds to your flock can bring more than pests. They can bring in diseases that are undetectable for a few weeks or longer.

 

[blackdog043]

Agreed. As much as I want new and different birds, 100% closed here.

You can get baby chicks to add to your flock. I usually get a few every year.

 

[50-45-1]

I also have brought home many adult birds that I have found on craigslist or direct contact from folks who need to rehome their chickens i have a large coop, free range and have lots of area.
Anything I bring home always go through the 2 week quarantine period but also I am usually reassured before I take them by actually talking to the previous owners ( seeing how they much they care) and seeing the housing and manner if care they recieved. A few of my experiences:
A girl went to collage an needed to rehome her 4 laying hens. She cried when they left
Another lady was moving to the city and could not take her flock if 12 birds with her. She visited them for 2 years every so often.
Some folks just have to downsize because if space issues.
A neighbor had all but 3 of her hens taken by a fox and could not stand to see the last 3 go like that. She made sure I knew their names.
A childhood friend of mine has a egg business and rehome all her girls (isa browns) when they are 3 years old. I took six. I was a little worried about these, but she actually gives her girls large pens and does not overcrowd at all.

I have never brought a disease home to my flock. Maybe just lucky!

Thank you for rescuing!

 

[Brooks_]

I have never brought a disease home to my flock. Maybe just lucky

Likely more to do with caution and quarantine than luck.

 

[Minister Marc C]

Likely more to do with caution and quarantine than luck.

UPDATE: The "rescued hens" are all doing well. No problems.
One thing I made sure I did was dust every one of them with Food-Grade,
"Diamataceous earth under their wings, and on the "bald-spots".
I also dust the coop (inside) and nesting boxes regularly, as well as the coop yard.
Our chickens don't run freely, they are in a completely fenced in area, top to bottom.
(Too many predators here) to roam free. I refresh their dust-bath area with pulverized dirt
mixed with diatameceous earth. They flop around in it regularly. All is well !
(.....Except for 1 mean ol' Rooster) !