Need advice from experts

[Weeg]

@Noellereagan is right, you are risking a spread of Mareks disease, so maybe carefully inspect the chickens before you take them home and decide with ones will be easiest to treat. Give all the chickens a check up and look at everything before bringing them home, crop, face, symptoms of diseases, and choose the chickens you want from there. Maybe just do a bit of research. Good luck, Avery

 

[tribalacres]

So what if you build your coop, get the “sick” chickens and you guys fall in love with them and they pass away if they in fact are sick. The dilemma is quarantining your coop for a minimum of two weeks before adding your new flock or the stress of watching them pass, and you and your family just don’t want to go through that again. It’s a waste of money on the coop, meds, etc. if you go that route.

We went through that, we rescued 14 chickens and almost risked a ton of sicknesses in our flicks and had to cull an entire flock, so rebuilding was tough. I like The previous poster want to save all, but just trying to add my cents for what it’s worth. .

Either way chickens are amazing little feathered creatures and you’ll love it either way...

 

[Weeg]

Everyone here has great point, it can be sad, and expensive, and time consuming, and you do have to be prepared for that. I you don't want to take the time to get to know them, spend the money, and possibly lose them anyway, then that totally makes sense, but if you are willing, then, hey, worth a try? Good luck, Avery

 

[streetriley]

Yes, I would only take 5-7 at time, five or less is better. Heal all or at least most of the bunch you take, and then Get another bunch. I just took some of my grandparents chickens home to treat them myself, so I can help you out if you decide to treat them! You will need to be prepared with everything for ever scenario before bringing them home though. Here is a good thread about all the stuff you may need for keeping chickens healthy. you will not need all the eating son the list, just wound care items, and medical treatment.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/suggestions-for-a-first-aid-kit-updated-8-01-2020.1150128/

Thank you very much!

 

[Weeg]

Of course, enjoy having chickens whatever path you take! They are so much fun, Avery

 

[streetriley]

So what if you build your coop, get the “sick” chickens and you guys fall in love with them and they pass away if they in fact are sick. The dilemma is quarantining your coop for a minimum of two weeks before adding your new flock or the stress of watching them pass, and you and your family just don’t want to go through that again. It’s a waste of money on the coop, meds, etc. if you go that route.

We went through that, we rescued 14 chickens and almost risked a ton of sicknesses in our flicks and had to cull an entire flock, so rebuilding was tough. I like The previous poster want to save all, but just trying to add my cents for what it’s worth. .

Either way chickens are amazing little feathered creatures and you’ll love it either way...

Very good points

 

[JadeFarms]

Since you don’t have another flock that could be infected means that you could take them. If it was me I would try to save them, but you have to expect the worst. It can be hard to see a chicken die after you spend a lot of time trying to save them. And some things you just can’t help. Do you know what they have? You can pick out the healthiest of the bunch and that might eliminate some stress and deaths. It’s all on you and if you can handle the stress and possible expense of any medicines.

 

[streetriley]

Not sure why they are dying, honestly. My suspicions are she's introducing them into her flock of around 80 hens and roosters way too young. She puts them in with the adults at around 2 weeks of age! Sometimes a little older, but she doesn't leave them inside very long. She never vaccinates any birds and has way too many roosters. They constantly breed the hens to the point of extreme feather loss and sometimes worse, (i.e. pecking sores etc...). There is a constant state of filth and not enough space for all the chickens, her square footage is around 300. Not enough roosting bars or nests and the hens are always pooping in the nests. She calls it her hobby farm and believes animals are created to serve people. Thats it. It's very frustrating to watch.

 

[streetriley]

than

Since you don’t have another flock that could be infected means that you could take them. If it was me I would try to save them, but you have to expect the worst. It can be hard to see a chicken die after you spend a lot of time trying to save them. And some things you just can’t help. Do you know what they have? You can pick out the healthiest of the bunch and that might eliminate some stress and deaths. It’s all on you and if you can handle the stress and possible expense of any medicines.

Thank you!

 

[Ruthster55]

Not sure why they are dying, honestly. My suspicions are she's introducing them into her flock of around 80 hens and roosters way too young. She puts them in with the adults at around 2 weeks of age! Sometimes a little older, but she doesn't leave them inside very long. She never vaccinates any birds and has way too many roosters. They constantly breed the hens to the point of extreme feather loss and sometimes worse, (i.e. pecking sores etc...). There is a constant state of filth and not enough space for all the chickens, her square footage is around 300. Not enough roosting bars or nests and the hens are always pooping in the nests. She calls it her hobby farm and believes animals are created to serve people. Thats it. It's very frustrating to watch.

Sounds like it could be something simple like a combination of coccidia and behavioral-crowding issues like picking.

However, to be safe, I would recommend reading up about serious diseases like Marek's and even Newcastle and making sure they aren't displaying any of the related symptoms.

Meanwhile, she needs to do something about her situation of too many roosters. She really needs to take care of that situation herself. Why doesn't she have those roosters "serve her" as she eats them? (old-fashioned way).

I don't see it as your responsibility to help with butchering, because she's the one who wants those chickens to serve her, whereas you sound like you are more interested in having a few chickens as pets that lay eggs.

Make sure that you're supportive (not critical) of the idea of her butchering some of the extra roosters.

Here are a couple of ways you could help her out with the flock problems:

1. Is there any way you could find a few branches and volunteer to nail them in her coop as extra roost poles?
2. Nest boxes are fairly easy to make if you have access to some lumber.
3. Then, once you have helped with those situations and once she has mostly resolved the rooster situation, you might consider taking a few home.