I was a bad flock owner

[jdiaz78]

I bought 3 new hens and added them to my flock today. I have since done some reading and it says to not introduce them for about 30 days. Well, I have already done that, so what should I do now?

 

[magicpigeon]

Check them for lice, mites, et cetera. I'd probably dust the whole flock and remove them and put them in isolation anyway.. not an expert though so... I'll wait for more advice

 

[CMTSMWC]

The reason for keeping them separate is to prevent diseases that your new birds may have from killing your original flock. I always do keep them separate for 30 days because I would be devastated if anything happened to my girls. If I were you I would go ahead and separate them just to be on the safe side. If you have had them together for 30 days and nothing has happened then I would say you are fine, but in future situations you may not be as lucky

I hope that helped

 

[jdiaz78]

You said to dust them, what kind of dust?

 

[magicpigeon]

Poultry dust, I use David Gray's

Malathion based, works like a charm

 

[the Pollo Loco]

does this work for all birds? including pigeons?

 

[magicpigeon]

Yup

 

[Mattemma]

We put our roo in with the girls early,and soon after 2 hens got snotty ill. Have some meds on hand in case any develop respitory illness.The roo never was ill.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

No point in removing the new birds now. Its a rookie mistake I've made too. Add some vitamins to their water, give them a good dusting for pests (I use Sevin) and

nobody gets sick. Good luck!

 

[wowmanacat]

I did the same think and after a time I had to cull all the new ones and one of my older girls, of course they were all white chickens and I think they had something that the other just did not get. Now I only buy chicks or eggs to hatch. I love the surprise that I get with the eggs and chicks that I buy at our local auction. I live in a area where white chickens are thought to be all Tyson birds.