How far away to keep quarantine birds from the flock?

[speckledhen]

Well, actually, we dont want to veer off course from the OP's thread. The disease debate is a subject for another thread, so sorry for getting a tad sidetracked. Anywhere you can keep the birds from sharing dander or breathing the air in the close vicinity is a good place to quarantine your birds. Some can do this easier than others, but I used a big wire dog crate in the bsmt when I bought the one and only grown bird I've ever purchased.

 

[DawnSuiter]

I put mine at the back of my property.. down wind from all the other poultry. After I think it's been long enough.. I expose some of my "less valued" birds to the new fowl, and see how that goes before I integrate. Also I tend to the new bird(s) at a different time of day, so that I don't walk from pen to pen exposing anyone.

I'm still new to all of this... and although I hope in the future to not have to bring many birds in, I'm still assembling my stock here. So I don't want to take any chances at all, losing what's been so hard to get started.

 

[Uppity Peon]

Keeping them separated by wire would obviously insufficient from a biosecurity standpoint. It may be possible to isolate them with a well-built solid wall between them but remember you also need to avoid tracking dust and germs between the flocks on your feet and equipment.

Birds that have access to the outdoors (and therefore wild birds) can be exposed to diseases too, so quarantining of new chickens can only buy you so much protection for your backyard flock. For our backyard flocks, we need to breed for disease resitance if that is possible.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yeah but you are not buying birds from garden-variety swaps or livestock auctions; not buying sick birds; hardly buying any birds at ALL; and presumably not taking your birds to 4H type shows.

There seems to be a BIG difference in the average observable health of birds at swaps, little county shows, and typical auctions, versus what you see at "serious" poultry shows...

Pat

 

[Rockpile99]

Good info thanks.

A couple of questions that I hope are on topic enough.

#1 - How long do you quarantine for, when do you know they are 'safe'?

#2 - Those of you who state that you never, or rarely buy birds are you buying eggs instead? I know that many of you have a well established, diverse flock but don't you still need to bring in some new blood every once in a while? For those of us building our flocks we obviously need to bring in stock from some where, and haven't been able to get into the hatching part yet.

Thanks

 

[Dar]

Quote:
My answer/opinion to...
#1...I have heard some people say 30 days is long enough...BUT I have my silkies in quarantine for 90 days now and this weekend they are going out to the yard for the first time...

#2 .. Some diseases can be in the eggs too I think PC said the virus his chickens had (which resulted in a TOTAL CULL of his entire flock) I think he said in the video it can be carried by eggs too..

My way of adding "new blood" it to buy a hen or rooster and quarantine ... Unless I have a broody hen i wont do chicks again dont get me wrong i loved having the chicks u found they were a lot of time and work

 

[speckledhen]

Quarantine is no guarantee that they will exhibit symptoms of whatever they may have. Usually, you can worm them, delouse them, etc then observe their breathing, etc. BUT, you could still have a carrier bird. I quarantined my rooster for five weeks. I will never buy another bird.