quarantine time for a small flock (2+2=4)

[autumn_mi]

OK - I doubled our flock size today (sounds more impressive than just saying i bought 2 chickens)

I am wondering if i really need to do the 30+ day quarantine. I don't want my 2 current birds to get something but at the same time it is not like i have a large flock to worry about -so wondering if keeping up 2 small coops for an extended amount of time is overkill.

Currently I have 9 month Silver Laced Wyandotte and ISA Brown (we had a Australorp that we had to kill 2 weeks ago after she became egg bound

). We keep them in a kids playhouse-chicken tractor parked for the winter.

Just bought a year old Araucana and Golden Laced Wyandotte - and put them in a 3x4 cage in the garage.

Any suggestions recommendations?

 

[patandchickens]

Well, if you are ok with the idea of potentially infecting your existing hens with <whatever> then obviously quarantine is not as big a deal, no matter how large or small the flock is.

It is still worth doing to the best of your convenient ability, though, in terms of reducing the odds of a problem.

It's a personal choice, there is no absolute right or wrong, you just have to do what seems best to YOU

Good lcuk, have fun, congrats on the new chickens

,

Pat

 

[Kittymomma]

What Pat said. At the very least I'd give them a good going over for mites/lice and spend some time just watching and listening to them for any signs of a problem. Best of luck!

 

[autumn_mi]

Cool - Thanks pat

b4 reading up on it here and seeing 30-90 day recommendations - i was thinking a week in the garage to make sure they "looked" ok
so depending on how the week goes - maybe i'll keep them longer to be safe or put them together at that point for simplicity .

Partly I feel bad keeping them caged in the garage that long not able to run around outside like the other girls.....maybe i'll put together a quick little chicken wire run for them if i keep them separate longer.... (such a blurry line between pets and livestock here)