New chicken!

[chickiyo]

So we just got our first Silkie. And I am not sure how to introduce the new chicken to the other two, who are definitely not taken with her...we have a little pen where we are keeping her for now, until the hens get used to the "stranger with the extremely fluffy butt".

She is somewhat of a rescue, her previous home kept her in a very small area with alot of chicks, and the owners were really rough. However, it was nothing like a puppy mill, the chickens were dirty, but well fed and had good nesting boxes.

None of the chickens looked sick. But the owner told me they were not vaccinated. I am keeping my new silkie separated for a week from the other chickens, and I really am not sure how to get her vaccinated, as my previous chickens were pre-vaccinated. Do you guys know what vaccinations should I ask for at our vets? Is it even necessary to get her shots done?

Anything else I should do? How should I socilize her?

Also she definitely needs a bath, how do you give a chicken a bath?

 

[TinyTotsSeramas]

Quote:
Dont know about the vacs but the bath, warm water and Dawn dish soap! works wonders! I had a silkie chick (she had to be culled) who had poultry lice and the Dawn actually killed the lice!! Also it will take a LONG time for them to dry off so you can also take a hair dryer to them! My chick loved it!

 

[chickiyo]

Thats great

thanks.
How do I wash her face though? Her head of fluff is pretty dingy, and i dont knoww how to take offf the dirt without getting shampoo in her eyes

 

[TinyTotsSeramas]

Quote:
you could try a tooth brush an brush the fluff backwards like your brushing hair.

 

[Wisher1000]

You can put a drop of mineral (baby) oil in each eye so that the soap will be displaced if it happens to get to her eyes. It is just a little insurance...

 

[galanie]

And be sure to keep her separate for 30 days rather than a week. Often, new ones are sick but it doesn't show up for a few weeks. Please don't take chances. Even if she were from the healthiest, most reputable breeder on the planet, they should still be isolated at least a month. I've read on here too often of people getting new birds and ending up with an entire flock sick because they didn't quarantine the new one.

 

[chickiyo]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I actually found a bird vet where I can take her to. If the vet gives me the all clear on her, will I have to still quarantine?

 

[TinyTotsSeramas]

Quote:
Yes I still would. the vet could not see anything medically wrong with her but some bacterial illnesses can take up to a month to show up and not even a vet would know!

Heres a link to some respiratory diseases and some info on them

http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/respiratory_disease.htm