Please tell me your method for quarantining - i mean logistically

[briana1975]

My big brooder in the basement is for quarantining. It is 4x5 and is big enough for 1 to 2 full sized chickens for 4 weeks. That way they are no where near my chickens for that time. It is near a large window so they do get light and air.

 

[Happy Chooks]

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Do you have a picture to share?

Would an extra large dog crate be big enough to quarantine a rooster? I have an opportunity to get a 5 week old cockeral.

 

[Elite Silkies]

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does your flock free range?
if so, is there not a concern about your flock approaching the quarantine pen and being exposed to mystery germs anyway?

My flock does not free range, they all have a coop and their own run, and the portable is not kept anywhere near the other flocks.

 

[speckledhen]

I've quarantined twice since I owned chickens. The first one, Hawkeye, was kept in a dog kennel, an extra large wire one, in the bsmt for five weeks. We have two of the kennels and I put the other one up on the deck, which is about 6 ft above the ground. On sunny days, a bit into the quarantine period, I'd bring him out to get some sunshine. The girls were nowhere near him during that time.

The second time, I was given an Ameraucana as a gift from my very trusted friend, Kate (helmstead here on BYC). She was 8 weeks old and by that time, we had built the little Firetower coop and covered pen, so we kept her in there for a month. She came from eggs from a breeder and Kate has never had any health issues with her flock, either, so though I was pretty sure of her perfect health, I quarantined her anyway.

IMO, though quarantine is not foolproof, it's the least we can do. It should be 30 days or longer, preferably six weeks, really.

 

[michickenwrangler]

I used the Chick-N-Hutch from Ware. Someone else I know used a wire dog crate placed in his barn covered with an old horse blanket at night (a very bitter winter).

 

[PunkinPeep]

All of these responses are great! Thank you everyone for contributing. It is very helpful to know the specifics of what goes on in other people's back yards.

Will some please explain to me and posterity why a chicken that has been healthy in someone else's yard might develop symptoms of some horrible disease while being quarantined for 4 - 6 weeks?

 

[Pathfinders]

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Several reasons. Chickens are funny, they often will not show signs of disease until they are VERY ill, and so could look healthy while at their place of origin, but be carrying disease.

As well, it's possible that during shipment (if they were mailed) they may come into contact with a virus or bacterial that takes time to incubate. During that time, they may look healthy until the get really sick, perhaps even weeks after being exposed.

And there's always the chance that your property may have some bug that the original owner does not, and while your chickens may be fine with it, the newcomer may not.

I have heard it speculated that many, many backyard flocks have subclinical cases of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). These birds may not show any symptoms at all until stressed (such as being shipped), but then will show signs of respiratory disease.

So it's best to leave a bird in quarantine for at least four weeks to allow them to adjust to your farm, and to determine if there are any hidden nasty surprises they may be carrying. That way, heaven forbid, if they do have something, you can deal with it before it gets into your entire flock.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
Several reasons. Chickens are funny, they often will not show signs of disease until they are VERY ill, and so could look healthy while at their place of origin, but be carrying disease.

As well, it's possible that during shipment (if they were mailed) they may come into contact with a virus or bacterial that takes time to incubate. During that time, they may look healthy until the get really sick, perhaps even weeks after being exposed.

And there's always the chance that your property may have some bug that the original owner does not, and while your chickens may be fine with it, the newcomer may not.

I have heard it speculated that many, many backyard flocks have subclinical cases of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS). These birds may not show any symptoms at all until stressed (such as being shipped), but then will show signs of respiratory disease.

So it's best to leave a bird in quarantine for at least four weeks to allow them to adjust to your farm, and to determine if there are any hidden nasty surprises they may be carrying. That way, heaven forbid, if they do have something, you can deal with it before it gets into your entire flock.

O.k. that makes sense for the things that they might already have that haven't incubated or are going to be inspired by stress to show themselves. But doesn't quarantining in the basement or dining room make the "getting used to your farm" part impossible?

Is the main concern here respiratory diseases?

 

[JessaLynn]

Very good info.Here's an example aswell.I had bought a pair of white silkies healthy in appearance and was from another 4H er.I quarantined them for 4 weeks in my garage.My existing flock resides an acre away from my house in the back.By the forth week I noticed the silkie hen not as active and wasn't eating or drinking much.2 days later she layed dead.Not sure the cause because she didn't have any other symptoms but seemed almost depressed like.I tried everything to help her but nothing seemed to work.The rooster was fine and I kept him quarantined for an additional 4weeks but he never got sick.Goes to show you though that it's soooo important to keep new birds away because even the healthiest looking ones can indeed be sick.It was just a good thing I did quarantine because who knows what might of happend to the rest of them

Also when I tried contacting the person I bought them from I got no responce.I got them super cheap and now I know why.This was a soccer mom with 4 kids and seemed lagit with her girls in 4H you would expect quality.I learned my lesson!

 

[Pathfinders]

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Personally, I don't quarantine in my house. I do so in a more remote section of my farm, downwind from everything else. But that's just me.

And yes, the worst poultry diseases do tend to be respiratory, specifically viral. Bacterial things you can treat (although there are some baddies that are bacterial too), but it's the viral ones that are the worst. Some even require you to cull your whole flock, depending on your state's rules.