Some people are terrible and I’m a sucker. Precautions needed for chicks?

[z3lda3]

Sigh. Basically 6 or so weeks ago we had a power outage. A neighbor of mine (I didn’t know well) was incubating eggs. I have a generator so she asked if I would incubate her eggs. Me being a sucker for animals said of course! Well here we are I’ve got 4 chicks about 2 weeks old. I went by her place, she’s gone, like picked up and moved. A neighbor across the way said she moved to Pennsylvania. Anyway I don’t know the breeds or anything at all about the parents of these chicks. Before I introduce them to my flock, are there any precautions I should take? Vaccines or such? (I don’t vaccinate my own chickens or chicks). I do not want to introduce diseases or something to my flock. Any suggestions?

 

[Thanson]

I read a really good thread on BYC about setting up the brooder near the flock and creating a small entrance from the brooder to the flock area. The chicks can safely return to the brooder when they want and the flock gets used to seeing them. As they grow older they naturally join the flock. I did this with some 10 week chicks that I purchased from the feed store. They are their own sub flock, but also part of the original flock. (I live in San Diego so I don't have to worry about cold weather conditions.)

 

[z3lda3]

I read a really good thread on BYC about setting up the brooder near the flock and creating a small entrance from the brooder to the flock area. The chicks can safely return to the brooder when they want and the flock gets used to seeing them. As they grow older they naturally join the flock. I did this with some 10 week chicks that I purchased from the feed store. They are their own sub flock, but also part of the original flock. (I live in San Diego so I don't have to worry about cold weather conditions.)

Do I need to worry about the chicks bringing disease into my flock? Since I hatched them are they disease free? Sigh it’s always something.

 

[Evadig]

Do I need to worry about the chicks bringing disease into my flock? Since I hatched them are they disease free? Sigh it’s always something.

I don’t believe you have to worry about the chicks bringing disease into your flock because you hatched them. They haven’t been exposed to anything else.

 

[z3lda3]

I don’t believe you have to worry about the chicks bringing disease into your flock because you hatched them. They haven’t been exposed to anything else.

Whew! I just wasn’t sure if parental disease are passed to the chick via egg. Thanks!

 

[Evadig]

Whew! I just wasn’t sure if parental disease are passed to the chick via egg. Thanks!

Well I don’t know for sure…I don’t want to be responsible for killing off your flock !

But it makes sense because people order hatching eggs all the time, not necessarily knowing if the parents have disease, and they don’t quarantine those chicks before introducing them into the flock.

 

[z3lda3]

Well I don’t know for sure…I don’t want to be responsible for killing off your flock !

But it makes sense because people order hatching eggs all the time, not necessarily knowing if the parents have disease, and they don’t quarantine those chicks before introducing them into the flock.

Excellent point! Ok maybe I’m just overthinking as usual.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hatching eggs should be a very low biosecurity risk, so quarantine isn't a concern as it would be with older birds.