Quarantine advice!

[21hens-incharge]

Proper quarantine is at least a month and FAR away from the existing birds. Here is a good article about bringing in new birds.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

It is important to properly quarantine in case the new ones have hidden illnesses that the stress of moving will cause to flare up.

 

[jmariez]

Oh! But the only thing now is....

How cold would be considered too cold for the girls to be outside in a makeshift box/covered dog crate overnight?! It’s been very warm for almost November here (Rhode Island).

Too cold without shelter at my house (Michigan) is my your feet are cold barefoot. For quarantining my birds in the winter or raising babies, they go in the garage in a created shelter with sides (used baby gates, plywood, what ever), surround 3 sides with tarps (remember if there's a way to get hurt or stuck, they will) newspaper & shavings on bottom and the top (not tight) 1 red heat lamp at opening. Make sure they can't reach the lamp and can get away if too hot. Never fail I have babies when it's cold.

 

[Gloryfarm]

Truthfully it is very hard to quarantine properly in a backyard set up. One does not have the space required If you don't do it properly, you may as well not do it at all. I would be picky about what I added to the flock, and for goodness sakes do not add anything you feel sorry for or from an auction where they may have been exposed to who knows what. But if the birds appear healthy, and where they come from is a reasonable set up, I would skip the quarantine in a small set up as described. Many people think they are quarantining, but are really just making a huge amount of work for themselves, and not preventing the transmission of disease.

Separated is not quarantined, you should do a bit of separation till they get a bit used to each other, and if the older ladies have never had new birds, they are apt to be a bit cranky about this.

There is a risk when adding birds. You could introduce to one group or the other, something they were not immune to, but you are only risking a few birds. I have added birds numerous times, from similar set ups to mine, and been fine. It is a risk, but...

Mrs K

I do agree with above in that. If I couldn’t do it in my garage fully away from the flock, I would just call it integration not quarantine.

 

[aart]

BYC Medical Quarantine Article

BYC 'quarantine' search

Integration Basics:

It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[afisher137]

Is a crate or a box big enough for a couple of chickens for a full month? Don't the need a some space to run around?

 

[aart]

Is a crate or a box big enough for a couple of chickens for a full month? Don't the need a some space to run around?

Probably not (depends on size of box/crate), and Yes, they need space.