Okay need help! Bought rooster & hen yesterday NEW PICS & OF MY CHICKS

[ambermarie]

Okay, I felt bad for these chickens at the flea market today...I already have 6 chicks, about 9wks old. They are healthy & active, they are outside in their coop. Anyway, so went to the flea market, and they were selling chickens...I guess people buy them to eat them, but I couldn't resist...so I bought this white & light brown rooster...he is so cute...has feathers like falling on his face, and feathers on his feet. Then I bought a female, that almost looks like a bared rock, but she is lighter. I'll post pics when I can. But anyway, I put them with my chicks, and they seem to be scared of the rooster & hen...probably because they are bigger. The hen & rooster were actually fighting when I first put them in the coop, but they are roosting together now, and seem fine. But the chicks are in the top of the coop. So do you think the chicks will come out to eat & drink even if they are scared? Were going to be building a MUCH bigger coop soon, probably within a month, we'll start it....but also these ones I bought yesterday stink really bad & are dirty...can they have a bath or anything? Will the female lay eggs, or is it possible she is like too old? They are really sweet, they actually let me pet them..they don't run all the time like my chicks do....also worried about if they have any diseases, will they transfer them to my chicks?

 

[Chicken Ninja]

If they do have diseases, then they probably will trasfer over to the other chickens

You should watch how the new addition interact with your chicks. When asserting the pecking order, things could get ugly with such a huge difference in age. Be careful, because if they stink really bad and are dirty, that is never really a good sign.

I'd consider seperating them from your chicks, just in case. No sense in losing all your precious chicks to disease from some chickens you essentially don't know much about.

And, pictures would be helpful

 

[zatsdeb]

most people quarintee birds and other farm animals when you bring a new one home, even if it is from someone you know. I would hate to give a bird or animal to a friend and have them not quarintee them and have something go wrong. you never know.
we got 3 ewes from someone down the road and I told my DH that we needed to separate them from the rest of the flock for at least a month before letting them pasture together, and we ended up with foot rot spreading to our little goats. He said they all looked good, but you never know! now I have been spending lots of money treating and quarinteeing my animals! thank god I caught it on time!!
birds can spread diseases very easily. my girlfriend lost her entire flock of chickens, she had so many different kinds, and silkies, and someone threw a rooster over her fence, they thought it was hers, maybe... who knows, but she lost her entire flock. it was very sad.

 

[speckledhen]

First rule: QUARANTINE! Never put new birds in with your flock. Filthy birds probably have lice/mites and goodness knows what. Remove them from anywhere near your birds and do it now, though it may be too late. Flea market poultry is not the way to go, I fear. I won't even get near any if I go to there.

 

[ambermarie]

Hi do I get rid of lice or parasites from them? I did see what looked like a flea crawling on the rooster....I thought it was just a bug though. So what should I do? Is their like a chicken doctor or something that can treat them?

 

[chickenannie]

Keep your chicks separated until they are nearly the same size, or at least 12 weeks old. The hen and rooster may peck them and kill them. the only time I have chicks and adults together is if they have a mother hen who protects them 24/7.

 

[Dirt Road]

Speckledhen is correct, flea market birds aren't worth the problems, even if they were free. Unfortunately you will have a very difficult time getting rid of mites in your coop. Lice are only slightly easier. Do a search under predators and pests, there's lots of info. Your kindness will likely cause you some headaches. Too bad people let animals get like that, but I suppose some just don't know any better. You can clean them up, it's just a nuisance to deal with.

Jim

 

[ambermarie]

Okay I took lots of pictures, I'll upload them when I get to my office in like an hour...does anyone know the best place to get the mite/lice treatment? I've been looking online but can't seem to find any...is their a person that can come out & treat them for me? I'm about 30mins from Charlotte. I just don't want any of them to die, and want them to be healthy happy chickens!

 

[AHappychick]

first give them a bath is some soapy water and then rinse (you can use shampoo if you like) then make a garlic oil There is a thread on it somewhere but essentially crush the garlic and put in bowl with boiling water. Once cool strain and then add olive oild and spray the heck out of the birds. This should kill the bugs on them, or at least help.

Seperate them now in a dog crate or something. Spread DE in your coop where they have been and change the water and clean it and food bowl. Cross your fingers and hope that bugs are all tey have.

You did a wonderful thing by getting them but it will be a little work to get them into good shape again.

 

[Toby96]

Get some Ivermectin, 2 drops on the skin of the birds on their back between the shoulder blades will sort out most louse/mites,

You should treat your coop, some people use a cocktail of chemicals but i spread some Diatom (DE) seems to sort the problem(s),

Really looking forward to seeing some pics! And good luck!