Should I adopt this new chicken?!

[sylviethecochin]

If she's a hen, I'm going to say that integration may be a problem, because hens are bullies to other hens. I would not bring home a hen and expect her to get along with a flock of larger hens unless you have a lot of space and tolerant hens.

However, when I was a kid, we had a pair of bantam roosters that free-ranged with the standard flock. They all got along very well, and those hens were absolute bullies. Hens usually like roosters, in my experience.

And as for the "Marek's risk"--well, you very likely already have it. And if you really want to avoid it, you can buy the vaccine and vaccinate your chickens yourself.

http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/mareks-disease/

I have added chickens from other farms to my flocks and have never had a problem with them. If you do decide to do this, isolate the little chicken for a while, then give her a "buddy" of your nicest chicken, and see if that works out. Once they've bonded, add the pair to your flock.

EDT: by "problem with them" I mean that my flock never contracted odd diseases within the first couple months after addition. I have had some trouble with Mareks, but that was always in young birds that had been exposed to the older flock too soon.

 

[chickens really]

Heads up....All Chickens carry disease...Stress brings out those diseases..A closed Flock is immune to these disease but they will show symptoms in times of stress..New Birds can bring in new disease that your flock has no immunity too...
Understand disease transfer ?..Chickens have disease...

 

[pasuit]

.

OK, so I have to comment here. Lots and Lots of people adopt, rescue, purchase and trade chickens all the time. Many times it works out fine but sometimes disease can be transferred so you have to think and decide are the risks worth it to you. Best practice is completely closed flock, indoors, no chance of interaction with any other birds and extreme biomeasures (changing clothes, washing, etc) Most of us do not go through those extremes and we generally get through life pretty okay. So if you really want this guy/ gal then use your best practices like quarantine for a couple of weeks, treat for internal and external parasites etc.

Your other question was in regards to bantams and large fowl living together. That depends a great deal on your space, and temperament of your flock. I have a mixed flock which includes a nankin (size of a pigeon), silkies, an easter egger and a very very large but blind rooster. They all get along fine except my nankin ankle bites my poor rooster sometimes. If he could see.....

When introducing smaller ones, they should have plenty of space, ways to get out of line of sight (obstacles), preferably a place they can get to that the bigger ones can't and several food and water options and of course dutiful owners who will keep an eye on them.

 

[sylviethecochin]

And x2 on Talithahorse. Didn't see your post.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Heads up....All Chickens carry disease...Stress brings out those diseases..A closed Flock is immune to these disease but they will show symptoms in times of stress..New Birds can bring in new disease that your flock has no immunity too...
Understand disease transfer ?..Chickens have disease...

Yes, they do.BUT.
You said Ducks DON'T.
NOT True.That is false.

 

[Sublight]

Love it!! Lester the molester

I was just laughing at it also. LOVE THE NAME.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

I don want to start a fight here, I don't.i am giving MY info, and letting people know that some of the info they have givin is false and inaccurate.
I might just be saying this because I am a animal sucker lover and that I would never leave one behind, Orbecause my flock has a high immune system, as they have been open to a few illnesses, some of them unknown.

 

[chickens really]

Yes, they do.BUT.
You said Ducks DON'T.
NOT True.That is false.

Wow...Don't confront me about Ducks...I rescue many and disease is not transferred..Whats your issue?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Heads up....All Chickens carry disease...Stress brings out those diseases..A closed Flock is immune to these disease but they will show symptoms in times of stress..New Birds can bring in new disease that your flock has no immunity too...
Understand disease transfer ?..Chickens have disease...

Yes, chickens carry diseases. But most diseases that birds in the same area carry will be transferred anyway, by the wind, by wild birds, by people and dogs, and a variety of other organisms. It's not completely safe--but neither is crossing the street.

 

[chickens really]

Yes, chickens carry diseases. But most diseases that birds in the same area carry will be transferred anyway, by the wind, by wild birds, by people and dogs, and a variety of other organisms. It's not completely safe--but neither is crossing the street.

Chickens are dirty if you really got into it ...