A friend is being forced to give up her three seven-month old hens. I have about thirty mixed hens right now. Should I quarentine them. If yes, for how long? Also, is my flock likely to reject these new girls? Thanks!!
Newcomers are always rejected. They are relegated to the bottom of the pecking order. In time they prove themselves worthy and fit in. As for quarantining, there are different reasons for that. If you are not sure of the newcomers health status, and don't want to infect your existing chicks, then do so. If heath and disease is not issue, then mainline it and let them celebrate together. I have small group, and just introduce newcomers without quarantine, I watch as the pecking does occur, but is not dangerous. Your circumstances may be different. HAVE FUN WITH FLOCK ABOVE ALL. ps. 7 month old chicks should be in prime health.
It's always a good idea to quarantine new birds. But if you know this person well, know how her birds have been kept and whether or not they've ever shown any signs of illness you may decide they are not high risk. When integrating new birds into a flock it's always a good idea to fence off an area for them where they can be right alongside the flock for a week or two. This gives everybody time to get used to each other and often minimizes the pecking order scuffles that occur later when they do get together. Chickens HATE newcomers and they can really be brutal, even to the point of killing new birds. Give them some time to settle in and it will go much more smoothly. Less stress on the new birds and less headaches for you!
Generally when talking a handful of birds, in a small backyard flock, I do not promote quarantine, as it is nearly impossible to do in limited space, and if you don't do it right, you may as well not do it. You can have a wreck, but you are talking just a few birds. You, on the other hand, have 30 birds. Thirty birds in an investment, and in my opinion, a bit to risk. I would assume if you have 30 birds you also have space to do a proper quarantine. You could get a disease that would wipe you out. You could get lucky and have no problems. If the other person has just 3, chances are she does not go to shows, or auctions or swaps, which dramatically increase your chance for exposure to disease. If she only has 3, there is a good possibility that there are not other chickens near her that could be a pool for a disease. If she has a good set up, chances are these are very healthy birds and will be no problem....... BUT there is a real risk. Separation is not quarantine. Quarantine is very involved, and involves a change of clothing including footwear, distance apart from the old to the new of 300 feet (I think), and even separate feed bins. If you don't do it right, you may as well not do it at all. Personally, if I didn't want to risk the 30, I would not take the birds. Mrs K
Yes, it is a solid commitment. Like K said, full change of clothes..including shoes, gloves, coats, EVERYTHING each time you go to either group. I was lucky and had my son taking care of girls most of the time, and I took the quarantined roo. But when they were all up to me, lots of wardrobe changes. Hen clothes where kept in barn, roo clothes in the garage. i made full quarantine for two full weeks before be flew his coop one morning and got within a foot of the girl's run. i still do not allow them contact. Not for at least two more weeks.