Chicken Math...integration...quarantine

[Urchickchic]

My new years resolution seems to be chicken math...I have three hens (14-20 months)...and long story short, I am going to be adopting some chickens that need to be rehomed (two hens and one rooster -- from two different flocks). All are healthy and well taken care of, the hens live next door and are about three years old. The rooster is almost two.

Any advice on how to quarantine at this time of year, when I don't have a separate coop? I have a dog kennel and run that I will put inside their current run (I have a TSC Producers Pride coop) but I'm not sure about quarantine...how long and any ideas or suggestions are appreciated!

Or am I crazy to offer to take these birds and disrupt my happy little family in their cadillac coop?

 

[aart]

I'd rethink it....getting older birds is risky.
And not sure of your goals.... but 3yo birds may not be very productive.
Very hard to do a real quarantine in a back yard scenario.
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Integration takes extra space too, and I doubt you have that space in your TSC coop(most are pretty small).
Dimensions and pics of current coop/run and kennel would help garner some suggestions.

Also, would help knowing...
Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[Ridgerunner]

As for quarantine i don't know what facilities you have or how far you are willing to go. Diseases and parasites can be spread by them sharing water or food bowls, pecking in dirt the others have pooped in (if they are side by side that dirt can be scratched in), by you tracking it from one flock to the other on your shoes or clothing, by buckets if you use the same bucket to give them food or water, by insects, or by the air. The better your quarantine the more you are protecting them from each other. With those hens next door the two flocks may have already been exposed to each other via mosquitoes or the wind. My suggestion is to do the best you reasonably can.

I looked up that coop and run set. Depending on your climate it should be good for 5 or 6 chickens although it says it can handle more. I could not tell how well it is built or much on detailed design of the interior but as far as prefab coops it did not look that bad.

I agree with Aart, what are your goals? Why do you want two more hens that age? Why do you want a rooster? Your goals are going to be different from mine, I can't judge whether you should take some or all of them or maybe forget it. Your goals may have more to do with neighborly relations and friendship than chickens.

Adding chickens will change your flock. It could be a very smooth transition, especially since they are adults, or it could be disruptive in the short term or long term. With living animals no one can honestly tell you how it will go.

Adding a rooster will change flock dynamics. Some people would love that change, others would hate it. The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs. Every other reason is personal preference. There is nothing wrong with personal preference, those can be strong motivators. In this type of situation I suggest you determine your goals and then keep as few roosters as you can to achieve those goals. I don't know if 0 or 1 is the right answer for you.

It's not always an easy decision Good luck.

 

[Mrs. K]

If they are truly next door, I would not worry about the quarantine at all. You have had to have seen them, talked about them, looked at them when you were out doing your own chores. They have more than likely been exposed to each other if they are less than 300 feet apart and lived through it.

Integration I would expect to go well also, they are equal numbers. If you have enough space, I do not think you will have too much trouble at all. Do set up extra feeders, do make sure you have hide outs, and roosts, and platforms that birds can get away from each other.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

It depends on what you mean by next door. If you are truly next door, I would not worry about quarantine at all. Your birds already have shared the same air space unless they are over 100 feet apart. If you have visited their birds, or they have visited your birds, well then a strict quarantine is a moot point.

As for integration, equal number of birds, all adults should go fairly well, might be some dust ups, but I would expect them to quickly figure it out, if you have enough space. Ridgerunner thinks you do, so I would be very confident on her advice.

If there are dust ups, let them work it out even if it looks pretty violent, unless they start drawing blood, or they gang up on one. Do have multiple feeders and water stations and some hideouts. Roosts, mini walls, platforms all allow birds to get away from each other, and that can really help.

MRs K

 

[Urchickchic]

Thank you for all your responses. We are in Maryland on a creek off the Chesapeake Bay. My neighbor is dispersing his flock as he is traveling too much. He asked if we wanted any. We are considering taking two hens.

They are mostly Buff Orphingtons and yes, we are suburban backyard keepers so they are less than 50 yards away. When out free ranging, as we have no fences, they have met in the past.
The Coop is a TSC Producer's Pride Coop, which is the largest they sell. I have three hens currently: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/producers-pride-defender-chicken-coop

As far as my goals, I am simply adopting them as pets. My hens lay eggs but there are only two of us and we don't eat them every day so egg production is not paramount. In fact, I prefer hens that don't lay everyday!

For integration, I will put them in a dog kennel with a pen attached in the run. That allows them to look at each other and get used to each other. I integrated two pullets that way a year ago and it went well. I didn't worry about quarantine as I hatched them. Glad to hear that it may not be as big an issue since they are very close. Air, mosquitos, yes, food, water & feces, less likely.

Thanks again and please feel free to comment more now that you know more about my situation. Thank You!

 

[Ridgerunner]

they have met in the past.

Then no need to quarantine.

That is the coop I saw. I think you will be OK.

 

[townchicks]

If you're crazy, then I am too. I'm going to do the same thing, as a friend is moving out of state, and I'm going to take 2 of her chickens, and even crazier, a gander. I am a big believer in quarantine and am going to quarantine these hens.( even though my friend takes very good care of her animals, stress can bring things out) In your case, however, it really seems to be pointless, as the flocks have already intermingled. It may even be that integration will be easier for you, because of that.
My plan was to get younger chickens as my older ones slow down laying, but the best laid plans...

 

[Urchickchic]

The early bird does get the worm and I called my neighbor today after I read your responses and he had just finished delivering them to a new home. I'm kinda bummed because a few were really friendly and came over into our yard... So I missed out on these girls, but I'm sure there will be others. Chicken Math...

 

[townchicks]

Bummer. But now, you can get baby chicks!