October 23 my neighbour had 4 hens, one had died even though I gave him the things to help her, but he was too lazy and didn't care. Anyway a week after that one died, he put the other 3 over the fence and asked if I could put them with my roo. I said yes, but because they didn't know each other, I made a house out of my dogs crate, a perch, got a large box for a nest which all 3 fit in nicely. Bought some wire netting and gave them a temporary home. 4 weeks went by and I still hadn't added them to mine.. one had severe vent gleet and although I got her well, she got it again. I generally keep their houses clean cos we have large river rats.
This one died of heat exhaustion 4 months later. She hadn't been feeling well and their carer didn't drag her out of their nesting box (cat carry box) to drink water. It was 32° an she was weak when I got home.
To this day (9mths) they had only gotten in with my own chickens a couple of times.
I hatch chicks through the incubator and when I sell them, none have been near the adults or even older chicks except my latest 2. Both had been in with their mumma, she's currently got pneumonia but nothing else.
Every time I go to feed, clean, handle my chickens, I wash my hands in between and scuff my boots in the grass to get rid of mud an poo. It's winter so the grass is always wet in the mornings and I have water tubs everywhere which I used to wash my hands. Damn freezing when its still ice..
Anyone who can't quarantine, improvise, metal dog crates, I've got 6 and only one dog gets hers, her brother gets a mattress, use a covered cat litter box with door (my current brooder) disposable puppy toilet training pads, tarpaulins, old kitchen cupboards stacked together to make individual cages by swapping out the door for wire, or use both. My 25 wk girls have one of my dog runs, crate and gate from the other one..
