I am about to go get some new hens for my flock, I have 8 hens( mix of 3 silkies, one barred rock, 2 type of reds and one black, and one leghorn) They all are almost 5 months old so none of course are laying. The ones I am getting are young still but are laying good the person said I am only getting a few more! Thats the plan anyways My question is do I need to put them in a new coop? I have heard you can't put them with your flock for like a month or something because of different flock dieases???? I have another coop I could use, but for the day I always let mine free range and would want these hens to do the same. So I am sure they will run into each other, leaving me to probably be picking chickens out or each different coop every night Also since they are older will they fight? I only have one rooster hes only 5 months also.
The new ones need to be quarentined to prevent any disease or parasite that they may have from being spread to your existing flock. During this quarantine make sure that your free-rangers can't get close to them. I usually worm and treat for coocidia during this time also just to make sure we get a clean start. Observe them daily but don't handle your birds after handling them. Handle existing birds, feeders, andwaterers first then decontaminate before handling the new birds and their equipment. I prefer to keep my new ones on wire to begin with so I can observe their droppings for problems also. A little bio-security goes a long way. I learned the hard way by bringing in a new rooster several years ago that looked fine when I put him in the coop. He has mycoplasmosis in its early stages and spread it into my flock killing about 2/3. Hard lessons stick with us. Mark
