Multi-question, Vaccination(less) flock management, adding to my flock, quarantine, ...

[bowen012]

I currently have 7 chicks (some 5 weeks old, a few 6 weeks) bought from a local breeder/farmer. Quite certain they aren't vaccinated for anything. Should I look into vaccinations (marek's and such) or is it of any use at this stage? Also, I'm upgrading my coop to a (relatively) large coop (to be able to more than double my flock size); and definitely want more chickens. Two part question here: First, since mine are currently not vaccinated, how should I go about incorporating new birds? What should I look for in a quarantine outside of the obvious signs of disease and illness? Secondly, how best to incorporate chickens of different ages (ie, if my current 6 week old chickens are 12 weeks old, how old do new chicks need to be before they can be housed together?) Along the same lines of not being vaccinated; are hatcheries really the best option for adding new birds? Unfortunate if so, seeing as the 'quality' of birds can evidently be relatively low from the major hatcheries...

 

[AussieHens96]

All our hens are vaccinated, thats what the breeder did, but she told us that vaccinations are mainly used and needed if you live near pidgeon breeders etc. Introduce them at night.

 

[520farmer]

I currently have 7 chicks (some 5 weeks old, a few 6 weeks) bought from a local breeder/farmer. Quite certain they aren't vaccinated for anything. Should I look into vaccinations (marek's and such) or is it of any use at this stage? Also, I'm upgrading my coop to a (relatively) large coop (to be able to more than double my flock size); and definitely want more chickens. Two part question here: First, since mine are currently not vaccinated, how should I go about incorporating new birds? What should I look for in a quarantine outside of the obvious signs of disease and illness? Secondly, how best to incorporate chickens of different ages (ie, if my current 6 week old chickens are 12 weeks old, how old do new chicks need to be before they can be housed together?) Along the same lines of not being vaccinated; are hatcheries really the best option for adding new birds? Unfortunate if so, seeing as the 'quality' of birds can evidently be relatively low from the major hatcheries...

I don't vaccinate any of my birds ever and have never had a problem. the safest way to add new birds to your flock is to quarantine them far from your current birds and where wild birds cant get to them. watch for mites along with disease and illness then after a week or two add one of your birds to her cage and watch YOUR bird for disease or illness or mites for a week or two then add them to your flock and be prepared for a pecking order to be established. they best place ive found to buy quality birds is right here on BYC in the buy/sell/trade thread and hatcheries are a far second in my opinion. the best way to integrate young birds I think would be to get a broody hen to hatch the eggs and raise the chicks, she'll keep them saf, and remember a pecking order is perfectly natural and can sometimes appear violent to us 'civilized' folk. Good Luck!