Quarantined chickens question

[egglicious]

Hello there! I have two young chickens that I got as replacements for two that I recently lost due to a dog attack (my dog). They are about 13 weeks old. The only place I had to quarantine them was a 100 gallon tank used for feeding/watering livestock with wire mesh over it. They are in the basement. I don't have any other place to put them outside. I feel sorry for them as it seems to be such a small space and they really should be outside. I have read of others quarantining birds in the bathtub and such, but, I don't know. What do you all think? Please respond without judgment, I am trying to do the right thing.

 

[easttxchick]

That does seem a bit small for 2 birds of that age.
Is putting shavings in the bath tub an option for you? They would have a lot more room.
Or you could go get one of those giant boxes at an appliance store, build a little cardboard "fence" and keep them in the garage...there are lots of ways to handle a quarantine situation, just be creative if you have to.

Good luck!

 

[Katydid2011]

Personally, I feel that bio-security is of paramount importance and I'm glad to hear you're quarantining when so many people do not; the consequences of not quarantining can be severe. Remember that many chickens live out their lives in tiny cages (it makes me sick to my stomach). Your birds aren't going to live their lives in a tiny space. You're simply separating them for a month. I think you're wise to do so and I think your girls will get over it. It's not ideal but it sounds like it's what you have to work with.

 

[egglicious]

Quote:
Hmm.. maybe I am wrong with the number of gallons, because it is about as big as a bathtub. Not quite as big as a fridge box but close...

 

[egglicious]

Quote:
Thanks so much. The only thing that makes me nervous is that by the time I can put them out my other girls will be around 18 weeks old. I was planning on putting them in the roost at night, then letting them work it out in the morn under my watchful eye. Of course I will have a crate to separate them if it gets bad but i'm hoping not. I know the older the established girls get, the more territorial they become...

 

[Davian]

Quote:
Hmm.. maybe I am wrong with the number of gallons, because it is about as big as a bathtub. Not quite as big as a fridge box but close...

That's probably a 200-250 gallon tank then. A 100 gallon tank isn't very big.


I used to raise saltwater fish and had a 120 gallon tank.

 

[egglicious]

Quote:
Hmm.. maybe I am wrong with the number of gallons, because it is about as big as a bathtub. Not quite as big as a fridge box but close...

That's probably a 200-250 gallon tank then. A 100 gallon tank isn't very big.


I used to raise saltwater fish and had a 120 gallon tank.

I'm not real good with numbers.