precautions etc for new birds?

[chicken1234]

I just bought two new batams that are 3 months old. Before I put them in their own coop I'm just wondering about deworming and other treatments you do on new birds? One thing I notice is they stink! I have them on a bedding of hay so its hard to see droppings but they don't look runny. My other girls don't stink so I'm concerned. I do have ivermec on hand......any advice or what works for u? Thanks!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You already have chickens. I don't know what that smell is but this sounds like a case where quarantine is a good idea. Keep them as far away from your other birds as you can. It may be something as simple as they got poop on themselves when they were transported but you might want to talk to a vet about a fecal sample. Does one of them have a sour crop? It may be nothing but to me an unusual smell is a warning to be careful. Maybe give then a bath and see if it clears up. Use a dish washing liquid like Dawn and don't let them chill until they are dry.

I generally don't like to treat unless necessary. Definitely check for mites and lice. It's a little harder to check for worms if you don't do a fecal sample, especially since the stress of moving may cause digestive upset. If you are going to quarantine them i won't hurt to treat them for worms, mites and lice either for that matter.

 

[chicken1234]

Thank you for the reply..... SHHHH don't tell my husband but they are in my basement in a xl dog crate now. I brought them in and put them on newspaper. I washed their feet and you were right I think that was the smell, they were poop covered. Poops are solid and look normal and they seem happy. I don't see any crawlies on them but will consider the bath. Thanks for the dawn dish soap tip as well! They haven't been near my other chickens, I'm putting them in their own coop once my quarantine is done. I'm thinking a couple weeks?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The general recommendation is a month for quarantine. It can take that long for a disease to show up.

 

[chicken1234]

Ok thanks. I haven't added chickens before, I've brought them all in at once so I'm still always learning.