Chicken Meet/Swap? Getting More Chickens? Read Here First, Please!

[LoneCowboy]

Thanks for the post, it's a very important thing to remember.

I bring in chick's and brood them and sell them to people who want to start new flocks or add to their flocks. These people come to my house to pick up their birds and often want to see my main coop. I don't mind showing it to people who don't have chickens so much, but I really don't like showing it to people who do. I never know what they are bringing in on their shoes.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Not me.

But I can tell you what horse people sometimes to do, when (as per usual) a new horse comes in that won't be really properly quarantined.

When possible, new horse is housed as far away in barn as possible with preference given to 'downwind'. Could you put up a polythene or plywood partition inside coop, and put new chickens where breezes will tend to blow from them *away* from other chickens?

Also care is taken to avoid feed or water buckets from new horse, or manure from it, coming near the existing horses.

And finally, take EXTRA good care of the existing animals - make sure they are warm/cool and well fed/watered and perhaps vitamin-supplemented, and not stressed by other things (social issues, dogs, whatnot - with horses it includes 'don't vaccinate them right before a new horse arrives').

(in addition to the previously-mentioned 'handle existing flock first, then new chickens, then wash up real well")

By no means is it a substitute for quarentine but if you are not GOING to quarentine then it at least stacks things in your favor as much as humanly possible.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do,

Pat

 

[miss_thenorth]

Okay, I have been suckered into taking n some new chickens... Long story short--I just had to take these birds. I have currently 6 laying hens. I took in some mixed breeds 4 hens and one roo.

Quote:
I don't want to lose any of these birds--what am I keeping them separate for so long for? to look for disease? to strengthen their immune system? do they need to be exposed slowly to each others germs? If so, how?

If you could answer these ?s it would be really helpful. and I can't promise that I won't do this again, so I want to know all I need to to keep them healthy.

Thanks so much for all your knowledge and help!!!!!

 

[patandchickens]

Like with any other kind of stock - mostly you want to wait to make sure they're not going to turn out with some sort of illness that could infect your existing birds. Just 'cuz they look fine today does not mean they aren't incubating germs of something that is not symptomatic yet.

Like when you catch a cold from someone on Thursday but don't start to sniffle and sneeze til Sunday, yet are infectious to others for a day or two before you really know you're sick.

But there is also *some* element of wanting the new birds, stressed from the move and the change in circumstances, to be in as good shape as possible, both so that they don't catch something from your flock AND so that they are as least likely as possible to fall ill from whatever germs they may be carrying.

It is pretty common, for many illnesses, for individuals to be exposed to the germs but over a few days or weeks their body fights 'em off, so the individual never actually becomes ill or even infectious to others. But the more stressed a critter is, the less likely this convenient scenario. Getting the animals stabilized at their new home for a while, rather than throwing them right into the deep end of herd (or in this case flock) social interactions and direct contact with other animals on top of their move, helps smooth the transition.

You may be doing it already, but remember to handle the new birds AFTER the old ones, each time you do stuff with 'em.

Good luck and congrats on the unexpected new chickens

,

Pat

 

[miss_thenorth]

Thanks, Pat, but I guess I still have questions... How do I build up their immune systems? Yogurt or kefir? And what do I add to their water? Electrolytes?

Just wanna get it right...

Thanks

 

[red-hen]

MissPrissy, Speckledhen, and Pips&Peeps,

Thank you all for this great topic and info. Having had chickens as a youngster and now planning for my future flock, I really appreciate this info.

Pips&Peeps - thanks too for the helpful info in my thread where I asked about marek's vaccination for small flocks.

While I don't plan to show my birds, I do sincerely hope to produce bantams which are brilliant little egg layers for backyard / families to buy locally. I will probably only produce a handful of birds a year, but I really want to do it responsibly. I want to vaccinate for the biggies ... like Marek's and the others which Pips&Peeps mentioned. To that end, I have a question .... If I buy the tablets that can be dissolved and used for the vaccination and take it to my vet's office, what are the chances they would vaccinate chicks for me when they hatch? Or am I nuts and would a vet charge me $50 to administer the vaccines? There was an old topic from year 2000 on another board where someone said they have a vet technician friend give all their injections. I'm just trying to plan way ahead. (I really can't give the injections myself, first I couldn't stomach doing it, second my health can be kinda weird and I really don't think it's a good idea for me to be accidentally spilling vaccines all over myself)

Thanks for any thoughts. I want to do it right - I'm just trying to figure out how!

 

[earthnut]

Quote:
It doesn't matter, as long as it has live cultures. The more different types of good bacteria you can give to them, the more robust their system will be. The 'mother' in apple cider vinegar provides good bacteria too. See http://www.poultryworkshop.com/Presentations/Dr. Peter Ferket/Raising Drug Free Poultry.pdf

 

[chickenranchwife]

What an awesome post MissPriss and yes I am guilty of adding to my flock without quarrantee the girls or guys, and have gotten away with it. Not saying you aren't correct, because I know you all have more experience than I do. This information has been very interesting. Thanks for the useful information.

 

[cajunlizz]

after I keep my new bantams that I am receiving today separated for 30 days , they are about 3 months old , when I find everything is safe , would it be ok to MIX bantams with RIR's , austolorps , barred rocks , and 4 roosters ?


I have 28 teens that are 14 weeks old , 6 hens , and 4 roosters between the ages of maybe 5 months to 1 yr. old .

SAFE as in not attacking each other or should I beware since these bantams are a smaller breed ?

YES , I am worried about mixing them , please advise me

 

[MissPrissy]

With 4 roosters you may find a lot of fighting as time progresses unless they have a huge amount of space to free range in.

You have to introduce them slowly with a closed pen inside the coop so they can see one another and get accustomed to one another for a couple weeks before trying to turn them out together.

The main thing I would worry about is the large fowl seriously injurying a bantam, especially a pullet, simply because of the size difference. A standard rooster mating a bantam hen can cause her serious physical damage. His weight on her could ruin her joints in the thighs and legs.

Some people do mix them and it works out fine. Some people mix them and turns out ugly. I would advise keeping a separate coop for the bantams. They will most likely be bullied and can be starved out by the bigger chickens.