How long to QUARANTINE?

[Buster52]

I've read several threads about quarantines, but have seen nothing about how long a bird should be kept separate. I recently bought some turkeys from a good seller, and right now am more interested in protecting them than the other birds because they are so much more expensive as well as personally valuable to us. But I also bought two at an auction, and I've quarantined them, as well (not with the other turkeys, though).

So how long should I keep them isolated?

 

[poultryhaven]

I've heard AT LEAST a month

 

[chicky gal1]

one month

 

[threehorses]

I third that.

Just as an fyi, if they're young birds (under 5 months ) I quarantine them for a month, but then dont' put them in the same pen until about 5 months.

I have a weird system. If they're not from my flock, they get the 1 month quarantine regardless.
If they are babies from my flock, they spend 1 month away from all adults - they're kept at my place but usually on my porch where the chickens don't go.
At 2-3 months their cages are more open so they get the general air of my place, but no ground and no direct contact with my birds.
At 4-5 months, they get put close to the other birds - in the same barn, but caged seperately and not on the old ground.. Birds might be face to face. If there's anything aerosol, they could get that. I call that "introducing them to each others' bugs" if anyone is carrying anything just that a normal flock might have.

Then at 5 months or 6, then get to go in with the other birds where they'll all be eating laying mash, oyster shell, etc.

It's worked for me for a long time, and hopefully will continue to. It might help someone else decide how to organize such things.

 

[Buster52]

Thanks, all. I appreciate it. I'll see if I can develop some sort of system for new birds.

 

[Chickenaddict]

I agree with the others. I always quarentine for 1 month, sometimes up to 6 weeks