Introducing a new chicken

[silkiemama002]

I'm integrating a new chicken for the first time (who's been in quarantine for 16 days), and want to know when she can be in a separate run visible to my existing flock.

I got her November 23rd knowing I was getting another chick the same age 3 days later, however this fell through multiple times and I can't find any others. I've given her a mirror and a homemade companion for company but it's not enough

I know standard quarantine is 4 weeks, but I'm really concerned for her wellbeing as I never intended for her to be alone for all this time... she is clearly depressed and I think she has lost weight.

There are a few things I am worried about:

• 28th November - found lice on her (only one, but treated her within the hour and again 6 days later)
• 29th November - discovered her brother died. The lady who bought him didn't give me much info, but enough to worry. Attaching the conversation I had with her.
• 7th December - one of my other babies, started pooping blood. We suspected coccidiosis, but the vet's float test confirmed roundworm. (I know it is unlikely this had anything to do with her, but including in case)
• I have also noticed some darker spots/discolouration on her earlobes... is this anything to worry about? If it were fowl pox, surely it would have gotten worse by now? Looks like they were there when we got her from the pics but they are slightly darker now, potentially because she has grown... I've added photos.

Other than that she seems healthy, just sad

Her quarantine pen is about 30 meters away from the others, inside the house and through three rooms. I have washed my hands when feeding or touching anything and showered /changed every time I have picked her up.

Given these circumstances, what would you do when it comes to introducing? My original babies are of course my priority, I just don’t want to be being unnecessarily strict with this if I’m just over worrying

 

[Mrs. K]

Goodness - well as to the email, I would think the fact that the other two chicks are doing fine, is a good sign. Sometimes birds do die, especially when they are chicks. Failure to thrive is pretty common.

Might be dirt on her earlobe? Fowl pocks is mostly on the combs and wattles.

How old are your birds, how old is the new bird?

To me, healthy looks healthy. But if you would go into a state of decline if you would introduce something to your original birds, keep on quarantining. Follow the directions like you are. Yes, chickens are a flock animal, but seriously they will live just fine alone. It does bother me that you think she is losing weight. Have you weighed her?

I think that the continued quarantine is probably the best way to go. If she is losing weight, I would be much more concerned that she is sick, rather than being depressed.

Mrs K

 

[silkiemama002]

Thank you so much for your reply @Mrs. K!

I don’t know if she got the other two from the same place or not… I am guessing not, as when I collected Betty the lady said that someone had just been to collect his brother. She’s sold him for $5 and gave me that note as change. She didn’t mention any others, but when I asked the lady who bought the brother if they were from the same place she didn’t reply so I am not 100% sure.

My originals are 14 weeks old tomorrow, the new gal (Betty) I was told is exactly one week older, but she is HUGE by comparison and development. Her wattles and comb are so much bigger than my others, even my boy

I have weighed her, but only on Thursday and not when I brought her home. She was 922g Thursday. I just weighed her again for the purposes of this reply, and she’s 900g. Could be that she hasn’t eaten her breakfast yet I’ll keep an eye on that.

Is there anything specific you think I should be looking out for other than weight loss? And do you think 4 weeks is best given the circumstances?

Thanks so much again! I hate feeling so novice and just want the best for all of the little babies

 

[Mrs. K]

I would do the full four weeks. If this is your first flock, and you could find a taker, I think I would recommend giving this bird you have in quarantine away.

It is surprising to me that birds that young as your originals would have round worm. You may not want to stress them any more. Adding a bird is a stressor for the flock and the new bird.

I just wonder if it might not be best, to just stick with your original flock, let them grow up and get established, and add some chicks next year if you have room. One really does not want all of their birds to be the same year old.

If you keep her, quarantine for the full 4 weeks. I don't think she is depressed, but she might be sick.

Mrs K

 

[silkiemama002]

I would do the full four weeks. If this is your first flock, and you could find a taker, I think I would recommend giving this bird you have in quarantine away.

It is surprising to me that birds that young as your originals would have round worm. You may not want to stress them any more. Adding a bird is a stressor for the flock and the new bird.

I just wonder if it might not be best, to just stick with your original flock, let them grow up and get established, and add some chicks next year if you have room. One really does not want all of their birds to be the same year old.

If you keep her, quarantine for the full 4 weeks. I don't think she is depressed, but she might be sick.

Mrs K

Thank you so much for your comment.

It IS my first flock I have thought about rehoming her however I only had three, and I wanted to balance the flock a bit since we have boy.

Oh really on the roundworm?! The vet said it is because they are free ranging and eating worms etc. It's not a farm or anything just our yard... and I am with them 100% of the time as I am too scared to leave them alone without protection.

They are so very loved, and I clean their coop of poop every other day. They've only been outside since we got the new baby, so just over two weeks and they've had all coop bedding removed and changed three times lol

Do you think it could have come from the newbie and I have potentially brought it out by accident despite my hygiene precautions?

What kind of disease would make her sick enough to lose weight, and is there anything I should be watching for? I am going to weigh her again tomorrow and see if anything has changed...

 

[Mrs. K]

Could you post a picture of your set up? A general idea of where you are? Measurements of coup and run.

And when you refer to a baby, do you mean a human infant? And in the original flock, you have two hens and a rooster?

If the answers are yes, I think you are headed for a wreck. A cockerel needs an experienced keeper. They seldom to almost never work in small flocks when raised with chicks the same age. I know he is a darling. They are the best chicks, but how they act now is not how they will act in a few short weeks.

I don’t want to rain on your parade, you are trying hard to do things right. But adding more hens to a rooster will not work with any success.

Space is very crucial for chickens.
If you are tight on space and often times smaller flocks are a bit tight on space.

So while I do understand how attached you are, I do think in the future you may need to adjust this flock, you can’t wish them to be nice.

Maybe I have misjudged the situation, I hope you will answer the questions and myself and others can help.

Mrs k

 

[silkiemama002]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate your insight! I am here to learn and soak up as much knowledge as possible and this forum has been wonderful for that!

I have heard a lot about roos puberty kicking in and them turning into little monsters! My Dad has chickens and my Aunt has a huge flock on her farm too, so I have had a lot of insight from them which has been nice.

As we hatched the eggs at home, we knew that we may end up with some - or even all - roosters! Luckily that didn't happen LOL. I have been preparing myself since before they hatched to rehome boys should the need arise, which was one of the reasons I got a DNA test done early. Although, of course I have become more attached than I thought I would!

I have been researching non stop and am very eager to ensure I do everything right, however I know you can have the best intentions and be unable to control a situation. So I have already spoken to people who would take him... which would break my heart, but I like to think I am aware enough to know when to do the right thing. If he turns into a little monster it would certainly make it easier LOL

No human infants here, I just meant the little chicks (sorry! I have no kids so animals are always my babies!), and of course, I do not mind sharing more.

We are in NSW, Australia. Their coop is a two story + nest box set up. They do have a run, however they only go in this if we are unable to be outside with them, which is very rare as I work from home full time (and am a bit of a homebody LOL) and I love being in the garden with them We have a fairly large garden that they free range from around 6:30am to sunset, as well as a separate area on our patio to provide shade (which they have full time access to), where their dust bath and water is located.

I'm not entirely sure of the measurements of the coop, I have just gone digging for my tape measure and of course it has gone walk about haha... but I have attached some photos to give you a better idea of what we are working with. You can see one of the little ones running around in the yard as well as Patsy underneath the nest box for scale of space in the coop

 

[Mrs. K]

Wow for some reason, that is not what I thought Australia looked like.

And that looks like more than enough room for your birds. Disregard my thought on the round worms, climate makes a huge difference in that.

Probably disregard most of my concerns. One tends to give advice from the view of their own set up.

Is the bird in the last picture allowed out into the sunshine? Now I think I would just go ahead and combine them. Get that bird more space and more sunlight.

 

[silkiemama002]

Wow for some reason, that is not what I thought Australia looked like.

And that looks like more than enough room for your birds. Disregard my thought on the round worms, climate makes a huge difference in that.

Probably disregard most of my concerns. One tends to give advice from the view of their own set up.

Is the bird in the last picture allowed out into the sunshine? Now I think I would just go ahead and combine them. Get that bird more space and more sunlight.

Thanks Mrs K!

It is quite common for people to think Aus isn't green (if that's what you meant, ha!) I was very surprised when I moved here to find there are even ski resorts just a few hours away from Sydney!

Thank you so much for your reply! I was so thrilled when I read your message!

Following your advice, I have actually moved Betty (the new bird) into her own run she has a whole lot of shade and some ice blocks. I was honestly amazed at the change in her as soon as I moved her out, she was like a COMPLETELY different chicken. Bouncing around and so inquisitive... She has even finally eaten some veggies; she hasn't eaten anything but pellets since we picked her up! It's really heartwarming to see such a positive change in her!

If you have any tips for intros, I would be delighted to hear your expert advice!

PS - The bird in the last picture you referenced is the one you can see in the yard photo! They are barely ever in their coop... they are currently on the nice cold patio near the fan while its so warm haha

 

[AGeese]

Hello

I agree Mrs K, this is a lot of trouble for chicks to be having at this age. Makes me question the conditions they were hatched into. I honestly don't know much about deworming at this age, but you should probably be doing some sort of treatment, natural or otherwise.

As to depression. Yes chickens do get depressed, they're flock animals. Unless you become their flock member they won't thrive in isolation and that probably has an effect on their immune system and overall health (my opinion.)

I would also recomend putting on some music for her during the day. I've noticed that helps with their spirits. I've been in this situation before with a single chick. Test this by just putting on something like light classical, country music, holiday music, oldies, choral singing etc, and see how she responds.

Back to quarantine, if you think you're seeing symptoms of something I'd treat for what it may appear to be, but use a broad spectrum drug. You wouldn't want to release her after all that time having not done so and then find out you needed to, and then be back to square one. But I am not sure about dosage for her age/size.

I have a pullet in quarantine who's 4 months who I've dosed with Ivermectin for similar symptoms. I was going to treat for Coccidiosis on an assumption with her droppings, but the next day she made a signifcant turn around. I'm keeping an eye on her, and will judge if I treat her with anything else. Her next dose will be in 2 weeks.

I don't plan on quarantine for 4 weeks, it's just too hard on them in my experience, and it's hard on me. Plus then they get accustome to people rather than birds. I already have 2 others in quarantine, but they are right next to the flock getting socialized through hardware cloth.

I want to intgrate them sooner as they appear to be in good health, and move her into that pen where her mates are so she can start getting exposure to the rest.

I know there are natural schools of thought on maintenance treating which I'm not opposed to, and also do. I don't do maintenance treating with antibiotics/antiparasitics (for good reason), I do it because I believe there may be a need.

Ivermectin is a broadspectrum so if there's any secondary illness/ailment it covers a range of them. I don't know if it's available to you where you are or not. I also am not saying that you should treat with it either, just sharing what I'm doing with mine presently because I already have it on hand and I know the dosage.

I will say I'm in the pro-Ivermectin camp as it seems to have turned a few of my birds around in different situations. This is entirely antedoetal so take it with a grain of salt.

Otherwise, good luck on this!