I've been reading a lot and you have to keep them in separate air spaces.... right now, the first batch is in the house. The second batch is also going to be in the house. The first batch is in the living room in the new, bigger brooder. The second batch will be in my craft room in the storage tote that the first batch started out in. The first batch should be ok in the new brooder until we are ready to move them into the coop, then batch 2 can go to the big brooder. But with them both being in the house, they aren't going to be quarantined the way they are supposed to be. So, now what?
Where are your chicks coming from? How far away from each other will they be? I would be less concerned about your chicks if the new ones are coming from a hatchery than if they are coming from a back yard breeder. There is a chance that you might bring in something with a new batch but if they are from a trusted hatchery, breeder or if you hatched them yourself, you are probably not likely to spread anything, just wash your hands well when moving from one group to the other. 30 days is a general quarantine guideline (I think) and you won't be putting them together until after that anyway so you should know if the new batch has brought anything in. Take a deep breath. Everything will most likely be ok.
Thank you very much for your replies. They will be coming from our local co op.. and I don't know what hatchery they use. As for distance in the house..... probably about 100 feet or so... and separated by a door.
As long as they are coming from the same place, or even different hatcheries, I wouldn't worry about it.
Most quarantine is relating to established flocks. Generally speaking chicks are healthy, or dead. Quarantine is for hidden diseases, that will make themselves known in a couple of weeks. With chicks, I agree with the above posters, I would not worry about it. That being said, if chicks look sick, don't take them home. Mrs. k I
This can not be emphasized enough! Every year there are folks on here who "rescue" birds, usually from "breeders", and the birds look horrible. The bring them home and expose their other birds to them and sure enough, they have dead birds. Don't get sucked into bringing in sick or unthrifty looking birds! I'm still not aware of any disease a chick from a hatchery is going to bring in that quarantine would help. It would have to be a disease that's passed from the hen to the egg, and would have symptoms in the first 14-30 days in the chick. What fits that profile?
I got 5 new babies today. 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes and a Silkie Bantam that my boyfriend wanted. lol I hand picked the 4. I got the ones that were running around eating and drinking. I didn't pick the Silkie out. The manager at TSC got her for us while we were picking out some other items. The Silkie is to replace the one little Isa Brown that didn't make it. They are so little! Omgosh, I don't remember my 1st batch being so little.... They are 2 1/2 weeks old. I really hope they do ok. I checked all their bottoms... so far so good. (Is it true pasty bottom is from a brooder that's too warm??) I have them all on Save A Chick electrolytes and probiotics. They are all eating and drinking and cuddling under their light. The Silkie is a little older I'd say... she's just a little bit bigger than the others.
