Isolating New chickens

[whittleah]

I’m adding three new pullets to my flock. They are the same age as my current flock (4 months). They are coming from a friend who takes very good care of her chickens. How careful do I need to be in regards to them bringing diseases to my chickens? I know you’re normally supposed to isolate for a week or so, but is that necessary if they are coming from a trusted source (not a breeder)? And I know they were well cared for?

 

[coach723]

It's usually recommended to isolate for at least 2 weeks, 4 is better. Illness will often show up during times of stress, moving to a new home and integrating into a new flock is stress. It really depends on how much you really know about the flock they came from and how much you trust that. Once you expose your current birds to something new, you can't undo it. If you are 100% sure that there are no diseases in the flock they came from, then it's up to you. I would still put them in a parallel run, or small space separated by fence for a while to let them meet where they can't touch. At 4 months integration may go quickly, but it really depends on the birds themselves. They could bring in parasites (coccidiosis or worms), respiratory virus's, Marek's disease, etc. It really is a judgement call on your part, how much you really know about where they came from and how much risk is acceptable to you.