Quarantining queries

[swampcat]

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x2

 

[ReikiStar]

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LOL! Great description. Then you deserve to have a hen that likes you.

What is that saying, "nothing in this world worth having comes easy"? Another bonding technique, if done with minimal stress is to give her a nice warm bath. Swaddle her in a towel to dry her off and put her in a central area (that isn't too cool -- no chills) to watch you do your person stuff. That's how we got a rescue hen who would barely look at us to literally come running to us whenever she sees us. Every time she does my heart sings...she's the most endearing little hen, one we had rescued from a bad situation.

 

[pawsplus]

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LOL! Great description. Then you deserve to have a hen that likes you.

Oh, I don't mind, LOL. I have a lot of respect for pushy, aggressive female animals. I completely ADORE Clarice, despite her animosity towards me.

What is that saying, "nothing in this world worth having comes easy"? Another bonding technique, if done with minimal stress is to give her a nice warm bath. Swaddle her in a towel to dry her off and put her in a central area (that isn't too cool -- no chills) to watch you do your person stuff. That's how we got a rescue hen who would barely look at us to literally come running to us whenever she sees us. Every time she does my heart sings...she's the most endearing little hen, one we had rescued from a bad situation.

Wow . . . really?? B/c that doesn't seem like something that would make a hen LIKE you.

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I know, I know. I've thought of that. But I have a lot of animals and they are all treated similarly in terms of medical care, etc. I.e., I have to make sure that I don't take on more animals than I can care for *in the manner I feel is correct and appropriate.* Given what avian vets cost, I'm leary of committing to FOUR hens, on top of everyone else who is relying on me.

But I'm not completely opposed. It worries me, too, subjecting a flock animal to a month in solitary. I certainly have plenty of room in the regular run/coop (10x10 run and 4x10x10 coop), and 3 dogs + plenty of friends to eat the eggs (I'm vegan and don't eat them). So we'll see.

I just ordered a HUGE dog crate to use for the New Hen's daytime quarantine quarters. I'll put it inside a staked down dog exercise pen on the lawn so New Hen can have something to do. At night she'll come into another crate in my guest room.​

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might try putting a stuffed animal in with her to keep her company. Also a mirror in with her may help make her think she is not alone.

 

[chickyboomboom]

I know how you feel. We originally were only going to get 2 chickens. But the min order from the breeder was 3. So we ordered 3. And then I thought, what's one more? We should have an egg for each of us (4 family members). So I went to the feed store to pick up just one more baby chick and ended up getting 2. So 2 grew to 5 rather quickly! But I don't regret it! And I don't think you will either if you get 2 more instead of 1. They will bond and be buddies!

Good luck with whatever you do!

 

[70monte]

To be honest, when I was a kid, we never quarantied any new chickens we got. We just put them in with the rest. I remember getting a polish hen for my birthday that had a stinky runny nose all of the time but back then I didn't know what that meant. We put her with the rest and none of the other chickens ever got anything from her. We hardly ever lost any chickens to sickness. Of course we almost always free ranged so that they weren't always caged up close to each other.

I just bought five black Australorp pullets from someone local and put them in with my current chickens. I checked them out before I got them and they all seemed and looked healthy. I currently don't have anywhere to quarantine other chickens because I have four six week RIR pullets in my extra coop. If they all get sick and die, I will than start over. I don't worry about it.

Now if I had some rare chickens or was breeding them to sell, it would be a different story. I would probably quarantine then.

Wayne

 

[pawsplus]

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Clearly, however, that would be beyond traumatic to ME. So I do plan to worry about it.

 

[ChicksterJo]

I usually purchase young chicks, like just hatched or up to a couple weeks old. I then have to keep them separated (thereby quarantining them) for a month until they are old enough to be in another separated cage within the larger coop/run. Then that's another month or so of keeping them separated again. It's a system that works for me, but I don't know if a lone chicken's going to like it very much. I always have to buy at least two.

 

[jenreinke]

What do you recommend looking out for in a flock if you didn't quarantine. I had to exchange my rooster for a pullet leaving me with only 1 pullet at home. (We can only have 3 hens in my county) I live in a suburban area without alot of space to house other hens and didn't want to leave my existing hen alone for a month. I bought 2 pullets to avoid this situation occurring again and they came from the same person as the rooster I swapped out. He doesn't commingle the chicks and the older chickens but I would like to know if there are specific things I should worry about. I use DE in the coop and run and all 3 look to be free of lice and mites. Thank you!