Do I really need to quarantine?

[ehoneybee]

I'm down to one hen. The other two were eaten by a hawk .I have the opportunity to get a few more layers from a local backyard chicken owner for free. She raised them from chicks and they are a year old (about the same age as my hen). We were going to add them in the evening. I don't want to wait because my hen is probably lonely. Is this a bad idea?

 

[Boonie Stomper]

I would go for it but monitor and supervise their initial interactions carefully. The noobs may bully your current hen. Was she a dominant hen before the attacks? The new ones will already have their relationships with each other. Your loner may be unhappy since its now her turf... how long has she been alone and what breed are all 3?

 

[ehoneybee]

I would go for it but monitor and supervise their initial interactions carefully. The noobs may bully your current hen. Was she a dominant hen before the attacks? The new ones will already have their relationships with each other. Your loner may be unhappy since its now her turf... how long has she been alone and what breed are all 3?

She's a Wyandotte. The other 2 were EE and BO. When we had a rooster, the BO was mean to the other 2 but once the rooster was out of the picture they all seemed on the same level. She is sweet and good with the kids. I could see her being at the bottom of the pecking order. The hens I'm getting are mutts, mostly EE and australorp. Wr also have the opportunity to get 2 year old hens that are pure bred but I don't care about that, although the way this hens are described they seem very sweet.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Good luck on your new introduced - see that hawk is not invited to the party and have plenty of activities for the birds to practice sharing.

 

[ehoneybee]

Good luck on your new introduced - see that hawk is not invited to the party and have plenty of activities for the birds to practice sharing.

Like what activities? Oh, and she's been alone for 3 days.

 

[quackingdom]

You don't NEED to quarantine. It's a good safety precaution, but not absolutely necessary. I have directly introduced ducks into my flock with no problems.

 

[Mrs. K]

To me, healthy looks healthy, even the best of flocks can have lice or mites, it happens. So examine them, but if they look good, I would add them, you are risking a total of 4 birds...

Birds from a similar set as mine, I am less cautious of quarantine... however, on another site, they get birds from auctions and swaps - those birds have been exposed to who knows what...I would be a little leery.

If you had a very valuable flock, or a very large flock where as a disease could wipe you out and cause severe financial loss...I probably would not add foreign birds.
But just a hobby set up, with few birds, I think the pluses out way the minuses.

Mrs K

 

[Teila]

Hey ehoneybee



I have been in the same situation as you and was down to one very lonely chicken. We dashed out, bought her one friend and yes, under the circumstances, waived quarantine; that was over 4 years ago and we still have them.

Because they were both alone, after only a couple of hours of introduction through wire, they seemed happy to forego the usual squabbling associated with introductions and appreciative of the company, settling down to roost together.

You scenario is a little different in that you are introducing multiple, already familiar with each other hens to a single hen and I agree with Boonie that you will need to keep a close eye on them in that they may pick on your single girl; however, they may also be a bit less inclined due to the new surroundings.

Quarantine is obviously the preferred way to go but in circumstances like this, I too vote that waiving of quarantine is probably best to give your lonely girl some companionship and a chance that I would be prepared to take.

I hope it all goes well for you and them!

 

[ehoneybee]

Yay, thank you! I am so excited to get this girl some friends! There are two scenarios I'm stuck with deciding about. I can get 2 one year old hens (EE, Austrolalorp) or 4 two year old ones (RIR, PR, Australorp). The 4 hens belong to a loving family who want younger hens but these hens to go to a good home (city ordinance says 6 max so they can't add to their flock). The 2 from the other place are extra chickens the owner doesn't need. The 4 chicken family situation is so heart warming I'm leaning toward it but we real only wanted 2 more (coop only holds 4), althoigh I've always thought 5 was a good number for us. Wwyd?

 

[Redhead Rae]

In your situation, I'd do a "see, no touch" intro through a fence. With one hen, I don't think a full 30 day quarantine is worth it. It is good for people who have established flocks to practice, but in your case, I would let it go.