How long do I need to quarantine a new rooster?

[CoopintheWoods]

Hi all! Within the next week or two, I will be getting a new rooster from a friend of mine. She had some extras, and my rooster is believed to have passed recently. The new roo is an EE, about 20 weeks old. All my other hens are adults. The rooster will not actually live with the hens, but will free range around while the hens are confined to protect them from predators. The rooster is mostly a deterrent and alarm.
How long do I need to quarantine the new rooster? I know my friend's birds are healthy, and I am not getting an openly diseased roo. How long will it take for any "hidden" illnesses to show up?

Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

Hi all! Within the next week or two, I will be getting a new rooster from a friend of mine. She had some extras, and my rooster is believed to have passed recently. The new roo is an EE, about 20 weeks old. All my other hens are adults. The rooster will not actually live with the hens, but will free range around while the hens are confined to protect them from predators. The rooster is mostly a deterrent and alarm.
How long do I need to quarantine the new rooster? I know my friend's birds are healthy, and I am not getting an openly diseased roo. How long will it take for any "hidden" illnesses to show up?

Thanks!

The general consensus is 30 days.

To due a true quarantine the new EE cockerel must be kept completely away from the hens, downwind from them or otherwise confined in such a way that any airborne disease cannot reach your original flock, say, in your garage if you have one. You would care for your original flock first and then him to prevent the transmission of any potential disease. Usually the stress of the move will bring out anything latent within 2 weeks.

Where will he stay to be safe at night? Do you have a second smaller coop and run that he will be quarantined in?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Agree with Dobie 30 days is a great number keeps your flock safe

 

[CoopintheWoods]

The general consensus is 30 days.

To due a true quarantine the new EE cockerel must be kept completely away from the hens, downwind from them or otherwise confined in such a way that any airborne disease cannot reach your original flock, say, in your garage if you have one. You would care for your original flock first and then him to prevent the transmission of any potential disease. Usually the stress of the move will bring out anything latent within 2 weeks.

Where will he stay to be safe at night? Do you have a second smaller coop and run that he will be quarantined in?

We will clean and use the same coop my rooster used to live in. It is a small coop with an attached run. The new roo will be in the run and coop until the end of the quarantine, and then will free range and sleep in his coop at night. Thanks for the advice!

 

[aart]

We will clean and use the same coop my rooster used to live in. It is a small coop with an attached run. The new roo will be in the run and coop until the end of the quarantine, and then will free range and sleep in his coop at night. Thanks for the advice!

Good info about biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Do you free range your hens?

 

[CoopintheWoods]

Good info about biological/medical quarantine:
BYC Medical Quarantine Article

Do you free range your hens?

No. We live near a lake where a lot of raptors live and nest, so free-range is not an option. The hens are confined in a large run.

 

[aart]

We live near a lake where a lot of raptors live and nest, so free-range is not an option.

But you plan to free range this rooster?

The rooster will not actually live with the hens, but will free range around while the hens are confined to protect them from predators. The rooster is mostly a deterrent and alarm.

If you're birds are in a secure enclosure, they don't need a rooster for a "deterrent and alarm".
The risk here(bringing in pests/disease) is not worth any imagined gain.