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 in the 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.

 

[Mrs. K]

Your problem is why a lot of people pretend to quarantine. Because doing it in a typical backyard is impossible. So they cheat and cross their fingers, thing is if you cheat, you may as well not do it at all.

Now the big question is what you are risking. If you would go into a state of decline, if you lost your original flock, only add new chicks. Day old chicks are considered disease free for quarantine purposes.

If you have a highly valuable flock of rare genetics - I think I would only add in eggs. There are people that have spent a huge amount of money on breeding, and are risking a great deal to add strange birds.

However, if you just want eggs, and you want them sooner than later - well technically where the birds are now is in quarantine to your birds before you get them. Now if these people just simply have some chickens, raised up, that they are selling, and they started with chicks, and everything is healthy - and your birds are healthy - well I would risk it.

If these people routinely go to bird swaps or auctions or even shows, where their birds are exposed to strange birds, well then I would not risk it. Who knows what they have been exposed to?

Do NOT EVER take birds that you feel sorry for, that is a train wreck.

Mrs K

 

[Shadrach]

It seems you may be in a bit of a rush.

As Mrs. K points out, proper quarantine is difficult in even a large backyard.
Mrs. K also points out that the more one can find out about the incoming birds provenance and keeping conditions the easier it is to make a risk assessment.
It reads you have space but not spare coops and runs.

First thing I would look at a way to avoid quarantine. Part of the problem is you want 30 chickens, 15 of them chicks. The chicks are going to want warmth, feeding, proper shelter in a predator proof environment, preferably with access to natural ground. Looks like money and time to me.
You would I assume want to house the chicks separately from the pullets, that's two coops with runs suitable for 15 chickens.


Chicks from a farm store...Personally I wouldn't risk if I valued the chickens I already keep.

Do any of your existing hens go broody?
This for me would be the most satisfactory solution. If one has broody hens and a bit of patience, all that quarantine, chick care, integration problems and later behavior problems tend to go away if one lets the hen sit and hatch. You'll probably spend a few hours at hatch time and maybe a few more at roost time while the chicks learn to go to roost, or at least into the coop.

Incubating some eggs and raising the chicks oneself is safe in most cases, but time consuming.

POL pullets, it depends where they come from. If one knows someone who keeps chickens and know a bit about their keeping conditions then getting a few pullets from them would be favourite. However, getting 15 to 20 in one go isn't likely unless they're a breeder.
Getting to look at a creature one buys, particularly bought as livestock, a few times (not once) before one commits is time well spent. As livestock they're an investment and like any investment some research is required to make sound decisions.
You may find someone here on BYC local to you with picture and information on their chickens. This can be a good way of reducing the risk.

If one was prepared to increase over time (say five or six every three months one would half the costs for coops, runs feeders etc.

 

[Debbie292d]

Chicks from a farm store...Personally I wouldn't risk if I valued the chickens I already keep.

I did this once, to try some different breeds. I will never, ever do it again. 3 out of 8 lived, no clue what happened, and I didn't care to go back to complain. I learned the farmer across the road got 12 turkey poults from the same feed mill and had only 5 live. Day-old poultry can't have coccidiosis, so what makes so many just die? Has to be shipping, I guess.

I've had adult birds flown in from exhibition breeders, and I'd do that again should the need arise. So far this year, I have already received two shipments of hatching eggs. Last year, it was about eight shipments. That's definitely the way to go for us!