Introducing a lot of chickens to a few hens

[NwChickOwner]

Well that makes your plan a bit more doable. Personally, I think you would be better to double your flock and see, do you like it, is it too much more work? If so, then the next year add to it again. That would give you longer to get the building done, and a bit more experience with a larger flock. And most your chickens would not be the same age.

Thing is, 10-12 head is not much work. You can carry a bucket of water, and a bucket of feed, and a wheelbarrow to clean out. But you start getting a large flock, then you have really need an automatic water system, you need a place to compost manure, you need a cart or wagon. And leaving them for a couple of days becomes much more difficult and risky. These are just all things to consider.

And you get more problems with parasites, with social disorders, and disease in a larger flock.

I hope I have been of help - I feel like I am just raining on your parade.

Mrs K

You’re not raining on my parade at all! This was unexpected and we really hadn’t considered anything that you’ve brought up so I really appreciate your advice!

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh good! You take advice so kindly - just do what you need to do!

 

[NwChickOwner]

Oh good! You take advice so kindly - just do what you need to do!

I just got on here because we have a sick older hen and made a post but I wanted to update you. I have 10 homes lined up for chickens (thought it was better to have too many homes than not enough) including our avian vet that are willing to take hens and/or roosters. We are planning on letting them get older to pick which to keep or give away. Unfortunately, one of our older girls is sick so if she's contagious we may not have a "too many chickens" problem after all.

 

[Mrs. K]

Pull that hen immediately from your flock. Move her a long ways away from the other birds, or cull her. Watch the others carefully.

What makes you think she is sick? And how sick is she.

 

[NwChickOwner]

Pull that hen immediately from your flock. Move her a long ways away from the other birds, or cull her. Watch the others carefully.

What makes you think she is sick? And how sick is she.

Her symptoms are staying away from the rest of the flock more, gradual weight loss, droopy comb, less energy, green poop (little greener than dark grass), not going up on roosting bars at night and sleeping in nesting box, gradually more weak.

This morning she was laying on her side, eyes closed, with poop on her feathers. All other adult chickens are acting great even though we are in the California heat wave.

 

[Mrs. K]

Chicken often do not live real long lives. Nothing lives forever. Probably not contagious and she will be gone soon. Some people like doctoring chickens, but I just accept this. If you are not careful you can get a lot of money into a $2.00 dead chicken.

I would not think this was a disease, but rather a genetic defect. A lot of people will suggest sending it to a lab, to see why it died, but unless you would start seeing several birds dying like this, I wouldn’t.

I would not worry about this singular incident or have it affect your long term plans.

 

[Mrs. K]

However, this is why I keep a flock. A multi-generational flock, by bringing in younger birds, and older birds exiting the flock, keeps the flock as a whole much more healthy.

 

[NwChickOwner]

Chicken often do not live real long lives. Nothing lives forever. Probably not contagious and she will be gone soon. Some people like doctoring chickens, but I just accept this. If you are not careful you can get a lot of money into a $2.00 dead chicken.

I would not think this was a disease, but rather a genetic defect. A lot of people will suggest sending it to a lab, to see why it died, but unless you would start seeing several birds dying like this, I wouldn’t.

I would not worry about this singular incident or have it affect your long term plans.

I appreciate your responses so much more than you know! I had taken the chicken to the avian vet about a week and a half ago but got less information from her than I have from you.

The chicken died last night. This morning I found her with one leg back and one under her. It resembles the photos I’ve seen of Mareks disease. All the chickens had been vaccinated but I’m wondering if it still got her. Or is that a somewhat normal way to find a chicken after they’ve died?

 

[aart]

I appreciate your responses so much more than you know! I had taken the chicken to the avian vet about a week and a half ago but got less information from her than I have from you.

The chicken died last night. This morning I found her with one leg back and one under her. It resembles the photos I’ve seen of Mareks disease. All the chickens had been vaccinated but I’m wondering if it still got her. Or is that a somewhat normal way to find a chicken after they’ve died?

Have your avian vet send bird to lab to determine if it's Mareks.
Keep bird refrigerated utnil then.

 

[LaFleche]

I just got on here because we have a sick older hen and made a post but I wanted to update you. I have 10 homes lined up for chickens (thought it was better to have too many homes than not enough) including our avian vet that are willing to take hens and/or roosters. We are planning on letting them get older to pick which to keep or give away. Unfortunately, one of our older girls is sick so if she's contagious we may not have a "too many chickens" problem after all.

When raising chickens the time starting as day olds up to 10-12 week of age is the most costly in terms of feed, bedding, energy/heat, supplements etc.

So I would start to sell off the surplus chicks right now as they are still very cute, can be sold unsexed and did not yet wreck havoc on your finances.

If you sell them later you will not only be left with all the males but will also have spent enormous amounts of money to raise started pullets for other people.

ETA: Wait until you get the necropsy result! You don't want to pass on the Marek virus to other people's flocks