Getting a Pair of Bourbon Reds...Introducing to the Flock Questions

[SandyC]

Hi,

I am getting a pair of Bourbon Reds this weekend from a local person. They are lovely
and healthy looking, a hen and a tom and have been free ranged and well cared for. I am introducing
them into my flock of hens, one rooster and one lonely Royal Palm hen. I was thinking, that I would pen them up
for a few days, where the rest of the flock can see them and then let them out with the others next week. Is that the right thing
to do? It works for my chickens, but I've never had a tom before. I have been told this tom is a big baby.

Any thoughts.....

Thanks!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I would quarentine them for more than a few days but that's just something we do no matter where a new addition comes from.

The 2 hens will probably have an adjustment phase - they will have to get the pecking order down but other than that they should do just fine, just keep an eye on them at first.

Steve in NC

 

[SandyC]

How long would you quareentine for Steve? We are on the final days of nicer weather around here. I was hoping they could spend sometime outside before the snow falls.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We do a month but you can shorten that by puting a bird in with the new turkyes when you get them. hen or roo it doesn't matter. It's not only the new birds coming in but your flock may have been exposed to something they haven't. Don't take this the wrong way but different flocks of birds have been exposed to different things. it's always a risk with new birds to the flock. Your flock is 100% healthy but they have been exposed to virus "A", they got over it and are great. the new birds have never seen it and they will get it. Or vice a versa Does that make sense? If you mix them on a limited basis for a week or so then so should be good to go. Just watch them carefully, and be a poo watcher, (doesn't that sound creepy

) If there is any issues it will show there first.

Steve in NC