New pullets

[TBone3882]

Lost all but one bird to a coon a few days ago. So my last bird didn't get lonely, I jumped the gun and bought some pullets from a local farmer. Now that I have them home I'm realizing I may have a bad decision. They look sickly, smell and are crawling in nats. Should I try to take them back or should I try to bring them back to good health?

 

[Cyprus]

Holy cow, I suggest getting those off your property asap. They could carry diseases that you can't even imagine.

Hopefully you don't face the same near loss in the future, however it is very strongly not recommended to introduce several new birds to a lone bird asap after a predator attack. The survivor will be stressed enough, in need of TLC and will likely feel very intimidated by new birds introduced so soon after a traumatic event. Time and patience is key.

I wish you the best.

 

[TBone3882]

Wish I knew that sooner

The seller maybe willing to take them back but I can't meet again until Sunday. What do I do until then? What do I do to get rid of a pullet?
I did bathe them. They stunk really bad. Still do but alot better.

 

[Perris]

I too would take them back. Until then, I'd keep them in the same spot, keep your bird away from them, collect and bag all their pooh and dispose of it carefully, do not share food or drink vessels with your existing hen, and sterilize everything once they've gone back, including the ground their crate is standing on.
Good luck!

 

[TBone3882]

I have these sickly smell pullets in my brooder box. There's enough room in there for now. Going to try and take them back this evening.
If successful, how do I sanitize the brooder? And the ground I had their cage on? Will a bleach solution on the ground and brooder work?
Thank in advance

 

[Perris]

what's available depends on where you are; here there is something called bioVX. If you are in the US I imagine there are a variety of things, and they will be in earnest use in California, where there is an outbreak of Newcastle disease. Whatever you use needs to be safe for chickens to go on afterwards of course. That's easier with a brooder box, which can be bleached and well rinsed, than on the ground. Perhaps ask in your local farm store?