darn!

[AdrieeC]

I just have to vent...sorry...

So about 3 weeks ago I got a Welsummer rooster about 3 months old.

YESTERDAY I got some hens and I told DH and cousin that I needed to keep them separate and why. DH doesn't know much about chickens, but gets the idea. Cousin thinks he is Gods gift to raising chickens... he is NOT! DH and I had to go somewhere last night, and the girls were in crates outside in crates outside. I explained to my cousin that he should put them in the bathroom if I was not home at dark... The Roo has been staying on the enclosed porch because we had to redesign the coup since he is pretty tall...
To make things easier I was going to put the hens in the coup first after bathing them because of the mud in the run where I got them ( we got a lot of rain the night before I got them.) Then once the hens were out of quarantine I could introduce the roo into the coup.
BUT. Instead of doing what I asked him to do he put the hens in the crates on the porch with the roo, so now, quarantine seems virtually useless. Thankfully if any of them do get sick it won't be a very significant loss, as I have not grown attached yet, and all the chickens together cost me $51.00. Thankfully I did not order them from a hatchery!

just frustrated!

Thanks for reading

 

[SilkieTime]

Some times you have to do with the mess you got. How are they doing now?

 

[AdrieeC]

Actually they are really doing well. Their eyes and noses are clear, and combs could probably use a little olive oil or something. Yesterday I got 3 out of 4 eggs, and today I had none... but I read that sometimes happens so I suppose it is alright.
they all have some feather loss in the same area, and I think it was from the rooster that was with them, but they all appear to be at different stages of growing back, which is good. Their poops are more firm, but not as firm as I would like them to be. So I am going to do the white rice yogurt and acv tip I got from someone and that should do the trick. They are eating and drinking, and DH had them in the yard quite actively free ranging in pairs or as a whole when I got home yesterday from work. I am amazed at the way he managed to get the hens out and the roo back in. even though they are together on the porch I am still going to keep them in thier crates for another couple of nights so I can observe each one individually.
They still stink like strong poop though. I have not had the opportunity to bathe them... I want to see if the same smell comes back, or if its just because of where they were when I got them...Thankfully my roo doesnt smell like that.

 

[SilkieTime]

 

[cobrien]

I don't think quarantine is useless because they've been in contact. i would re-start the quarantine. Diseases aren't spread in an instant...at least not all the time. Think about a cold, aids, other diseases - just being in the same room with someone does not necessarily give you the disease. There is an element of time and type of contact. I would rather be safe than sorry.