For me, a closed flock, good housing and good basic care are the best way to keep them healthy.
Adding new chickens to a flock that are carrying a disease is so much worse than any contact that a free ranging chicken gets from wild birds. Part of this is the close living conditions. They're right next to each other on the roost, plus eating and drinking together. They're on the same litter and in the same run together. This is much more concentrated contact.
The other thing that is a huge issue for chickens is the stress of adding chickens to an existing flock. In most cases, it's one of the most stressful situations for chickens. That stress suppresses their immune systems. Anything either the new or old chickens may have been carrying can then flourish. Anything a healthy chicken is exposed to at that time has a much greater chance of making it sick.
I do free range. I think the health benefits outweigh the minimal risks here. They get more exercise and have a much healthier diet. This works for my flock.
The disease horror stories I read most often involve chickens that were bought from an auction, a swap or some other chicken owner. It's very rare to have a problem with chicks from one of the well known hatcheries.
Adding new chickens to a flock that are carrying a disease is so much worse than any contact that a free ranging chicken gets from wild birds. Part of this is the close living conditions. They're right next to each other on the roost, plus eating and drinking together. They're on the same litter and in the same run together. This is much more concentrated contact.
The other thing that is a huge issue for chickens is the stress of adding chickens to an existing flock. In most cases, it's one of the most stressful situations for chickens. That stress suppresses their immune systems. Anything either the new or old chickens may have been carrying can then flourish. Anything a healthy chicken is exposed to at that time has a much greater chance of making it sick.
I do free range. I think the health benefits outweigh the minimal risks here. They get more exercise and have a much healthier diet. This works for my flock.
The disease horror stories I read most often involve chickens that were bought from an auction, a swap or some other chicken owner. It's very rare to have a problem with chicks from one of the well known hatcheries.