Quarantine?

[angel8035]

I am thinking about adopting a few ex battery hens. Of course, I want to segregate them from my little flock for a few weeks to make sure they aren't sick. Question is, where do I put them? I have a backyard flock and one coop. Any ideas on what I can use to cheaply and temporarily house a few chickens for a few weeks?

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Well, it depends, but if you have some leftover chicken wire you can build a little fenced off area a ways from your hens, or, if you have a large dog crate or liek 2 medium you could put them away from your hens. Hmmm, you could also use a brooder (depending on what your brooder is, I know some people use a cardboard box, others a big metal corral it seems! Lol), or, you could... hhmm.. I'm outta ideas for now, lettme check the well in a few

 

[lilchick]

If you are purchasing them directly from place they kept them in there should be no problems with illness. They closely monitor and keep closed flocks so disease would probably not be an issue with these hens.
But if you want to keep them segregated for awhile to see if stress brings something out that would work also. It is a pain to do so as you have to realize that shoes, hands and clothes can spread anything from one pen to the other. Taking care of these last so as not to pass anything on.
A dog crate set up in enclosed area would work to keep them in. I use old cardboard boxes that farm stores kept bird seed and bags of potatoes in. They are about 4 ft. wide by 3 ft tall. and can work well as temp. housing also. I use a baby gate laid over the top to keep them from flying out.
I had some with fowl pox and kept them in garage. I cared for them last and wore slip on clogs in there only, and tossed my clothes in laundry not to be worn outside again until laundered.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Michelle, to be on the safe side the recommended quarantine period is 30 days.