Quarantine logistics for several hens

[amama]

Let me know if there is a previous thread I can read; I couldn't find anything specifically to my questions.

We currently have a rooster and a few 2 or 3-yr old hens and need to enlarge our flock. I'm considering buying about 15-20 1-yr old hens that are laying and also getting about 15 chicks from the feed store. All of you who quarantine; how do you do that space-wise? I'm assuming most people don't have unlimited coops, or space, feeders, etc. It's better for them to be outside instead of in my garage, and I can't imagine that many full-grown hens in my garage (except the chicks until it's warm enough here). I really can't figure out how to separate hens for a month, and then also add the new chicks in 6-8 weeks. We have a large coop with a small/medium covered run, that opens into large free-range fenced fields. Maybe I'm missing something, but I just don't see where to store a lot of hens for that quarantine period. Curious how others do it. Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

What I'd do is find an old doghouse or small shed, or build something on that order, then attach a fence of 1/2" hardware cloth. You can do the quarantine for a couple of weeks, then use the pen as a growout pen for your chicks when they can be outside.

The only problem is location. For quarantine, you'd want the new hens as far away from your current ones as you could be, figuring an acre or two if you have that. Then when the chicks go out, it'd be good for them to be nearer the older ones so they could all get used to each other. That'd make integrating them much easier. One of three of ours is movable, as it's a small shed with a purchased dog/pet fencing with posts you stick int he ground. We lined each panel with HWC and can just take the panels down, pull the posts, and move it.

We found the shed on Marketplace, as well as a dog house, and for a third one, hubby built a hutch out of a wooden appliance crate.

If you want pictures of any of these, just let me know.