Looking for advice for introducing new flock

[Meryl 'peep]

I had a small flock of 3 girls, and sadly recently lost 2 of them. The two went out in similar ways about a month apart -- both started walking like penguins and deteriorated from there. (The second girl I lost seemed to have a swollen abdomen.) All 3 are about 5 years old at this point.

I hate to see my last girl alone and want to regrow my flock as soon as possible. But I'm super new to all this and am unsure of the best way to do so. Here are some of my questions:

1) I'm worried that -- because the two deaths were so close together, they were related somehow. My concern is that my last girl is sick, and I'm hesitant to introduce any new chickens in case she does have an illness. I know I should quarantine, but I'm still worried about introducing too soon.

2) I don't currently have a second coop or structure that I could put new girls in. (I'd want about 3 more) Would it be too risky to introduce 3 new ones to the one existing one I have?

3) If yes, too risky, what should I have for the second structure? An entirely new coop? A crate + some kind of fenced off area to keep them separate?

Here is what my coop and part of my yard looks like for reference:

As you can tell, I'm new to this and pretty confused... but I am very eager to grow my flock!

 

[azygous]

You are wise to be considering the reason for the deaths and what consequences it might have for a future flock. Quarantine will do nothing to prevent the transmission of certain avian viruses, however, because they live in the soil and the remaining hen, if the virus exists and was responsible for the deaths, is a carrier.

This isn't a certainty that there is a virus, though. But I would suspect it could have played a role in the deaths (tumors caused by a virus). There is also the possibility that the deaths were the result of long term diet resulting in fatty liver syndrome resulting in liver disease. The symptom of "penguin walking" indicates fluid retention (ascites) usually caused by liver disease.

The best way to find out if a chicken carries an avian virus is to have a necropsy done following death. You can perform a blood test on a live chicken to look for DNA markers for these viruses, but it's costly.

There are two options. One is the safe one - wait until this last hen dies and have her body sent to a lab for a necropsy. Then you will know with certainty if a virus is present on your premises and you can mitigate accordingly. Some viruses are short lived in the environment such as lymphotic leucosis. Others are long lived such as Marek's. You would mitigate (cleanup) differently.

The other option is to get new chicks, have them vaccinated for as many viruses as you can, and take your chances.

 

[Meryl 'peep]

Thanks, azygous! I feel so bad for the last hen who is by herself, so I'd like to get her some friends as soon as possible. I'm just a little nervous given the circumstances.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC...sorry you're having troubles.
I love your screen name tho!

I will not give my harsh opinion, my birds are not pets they are food.
Integration would be very difficult if not impossible in that small setting,
true quarantine is rarely possible for a backyard keeper.
I don't have much faith in vaccines, especially without a necrospy having been done.

If you really want to grow a flock, a new large coop and run would be the way to go.

 

[Meryl 'peep]

Thanks, Aart! Yes, I am quite limited with space and figured quarantine would be difficult. :\