How would you prepare to receive a 4 moth old after 48 hours shipping?

[rebrascora]

One word..... Quarantine!
This bird has come from a breeder(as oppose to a hatchery), is at a vulnerable age and will have been stressed by 48hr delivery. Keeping him isolated from your girls for at least a couple of weeks would be very wise regardless of breeders certification. Marek's disease is widespread amongst many flocks and not covered by NPIP and not treatable once you have it, so, far better to be safe and make sure he is isolated from your girls for a few weeks than be sorry.... I speak from experience!

Electrolytes and a good vitamin supplement will be beneficial and maybe a probiotic. Not sure what you feed your existing flock but if they are on layer feed then switching to an all flock will be better, particularly if you are planning to breed in the future.

I hope he arrives safely. Good luck with him.

 

[AllenK RGV]

One word..... Quarantine!
This bird has come from a breeder(as oppose to a hatchery), is at a vulnerable age and will have been stressed by 48hr delivery. Keeping him isolated from your girls for at least a couple of weeks would be very wise regardless of breeders certification. Marek's disease is widespread amongst many flocks and not covered by NPIP and not treatable once you have it, so, far better to be safe and make sure he is isolated from your girls for a few weeks than be sorry.... I speak from experience!

Electrolytes and a good vitamin supplement will be beneficial and maybe a probiotic. Not sure what you feed your existing flock but if they are on layer feed then switching to an all flock will be better, particularly if you are planning to breed in the future.

I hope he arrives safely. Good luck with him.

Yes the rest of my flock has been vaccinated against it and that is in the back of my head too, since the vaccine is only affordable when you are pushing out thousands of chicks a month.

 

[AllenK RGV]

That sounds good!
If this one turns out aggressive u could pick him up and carry him around when doing chores outside. We r dealing with an aggressive rooster .. he started up last year and seems like he's finally getting calmer. I would pick him up usually about the time they roost (that's the only time I can catch him now) and carry him around while getting whatever I need done.

Yes if this one begins to act aggressive I'll play the waiting game with this one and see if it is just the youthful hormones.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Ok I should have listened to my wife and opened the box inside the dog shipping kennel, but he has arrived, tried to introduce himself to the flock, but the omega hen instantly went all Bruce Lee on him and the others piled on!

He looks pretty decent overall, but does look like he spend 50 or more hours in a box without food or water as his comb and wattles are grey. I do expect him to brighten up now that he has access to food and water and a secure enclosure.

What a good cardio workout he gave me! I hadn't planned on getting in a workout this morning! Even at 4 months these guys are good fliers. My wife kept insisting he was gone!

The photos, my alha female sizing him up, and him cowering in the back of the dog crate! Sorry not the best photos the light isn't good this morning.

 

[WVduckchick]

I shipped 3 serama roosters just last week, about 8 months old. WV to NY. Shipping was also $50, and guaranteed 1 day, but it took 2 days. 3 of them in one box for 50 hours was not nice. But they actually did great. Glad your little guy made it all alone. (reminds me, I need to file my claim now)

Funny that he gave you a workout!

I'd keep those hens further away from that crate though....

 

[Kusanar]

I'd keep those hens further away from that crate though....

Sounds like he's already been in the flock and beat on by the hens, so, quarantine and biosecurity are already blown...

 

[AllenK RGV]

You are probably right about the distance I just don't want to move him inside and my hens have full run of the property. Regardless, they are all Heritage breeds being treated like Heritage breeds so not really expecting problems. Additionally, the hen's don't listen to me at all(even though we never exchanged vows)!
-----edit------
I never want to experience indoor chicken dust again in my life!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Sounds like he's already been in the flock and beat on by the hens, so, quarantine and biosecurity are already blown...

Yep he took to the wing the moment I opened the box, also that was the same moment my wife was telling me it would be better to open it inside the dog crate.

Lesson learned- common sense isn't common!

 

[Kusanar]

Yep he took to the wing the moment I opened the box, also that was the same moment my wife was telling me it would be better to open it inside the dog crate.

Lesson learned- common sense isn't common!

I've had horses make the exact same escape (and they're a lot bigger), so, not judging, just saying that if he had any nasty diseases, likely it's too late because he could/would have spread them already.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I've had horses make the exact same escape (and they're a lot bigger), so, not judging, just saying that if he had any nasty diseases, likely it's too late because he could/would have spread them already.

I am very comfortable with the source breeder. I just worry that he didn't come from a NPIP large hatchery so he never would have received a Mareks vaccine.

Only time will tell if he became my second biggest chicken keeping mistake(#1 was ordering a straight run to start a flock).