The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[sahmhomesteader]

I currently have six 2 yr old hens and eleven 12 week old chicks. A friend of a friend is giving away sixteen 11.5 week old chicks. They have roamed in a small enclosure with 15 other chicks (only 15x20). They have also been fed medicated feed. I was thinking of grabbing a few and free ranging them over 2 acres with my existing flock. They would also have to make the transition to organic feed whenever they need it. My question is, do I need to quarantine them from the flock because of the medicated feed or can I just go ahead and put them in the coop tonight?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I currently have six 2 yr old hens and eleven 12 week old chicks. A friend of a friend is giving away sixteen 11.5 week old chicks. They have roamed in a small enclosure with 15 other chicks (only 15x20). They have also been fed medicated feed. I was thinking of grabbing a few and free ranging them over 2 acres with my existing flock. They would also have to make the transition to organic feed whenever they need it. My question is, do I need to quarantine them from the flock because of the medicated feed or can I just go ahead and put them in the coop tonight?

Medicated feed or not - you should always quarantine.

Your chickens are exposed to things in your area; the other kiddos are exposed to things in their area. Neither one may have immunities to the things in the other area.

Put them in a separated area for 2 weeks, then add one of yours to the area near that bunch (preferable in a "see no touch" pen right next to them so there's no bullying). Do that for another 2 weeks...then comes time to integrate together.

You can save yourself a world of trouble by doing so.


And..the med feed is usually just a feed with amprollium for blocking thiamin uptake since coccidiosis needs the thiamin to proliferate. This kind of feed should not be used long-term.

 

[sahmhomesteader]

L

 

[sahmhomesteader]

Medicated feed or not - you should always quarantine. 

Your chickens are exposed to things in your area; the other kiddos are exposed to things in their area.  Neither one may have immunities to the things in the other area.

Put them in a separated area for 2 weeks, then add one of yours to the area near that bunch (preferable in a "see no touch" pen right next to them so there's no bullying).  Do that for another 2 weeks...then comes time to integrate together.

You can save yourself a world of trouble by doing so.


And..the med feed is usually just a feed with amprollium for blocking thiamin uptake since coccidiosis needs the thiamin to proliferate.  This kind of feed should not be used long-term.

So for quarantining do I have to put them in a completely separate building? We just have one barn with the chicken coop built inside it. No outdoor coop. If I didn't put them in the existing coop I would still have to put them in the barn...

 

[Scott H]

Just had to cull our beautiful Juanita....she was the Silver Laced Wyandotte that never layed an egg but she was our buddy and Oprah's running mate especially when Tina was broody. Found her face down in the coop when I got home and she couldn't hold her head up. I was kinda expecting her to not have a long life....

RIP Juanita...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Could you do something like a dog crate in the garage?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Just had to cull our beautiful Juanita....she was the Silver Laced Wyandotte that never layed an egg but she was our buddy and Oprah's running mate especially when Tina was broody. Found her face down in the coop when I got home and she couldn't hold her head up. I was kinda expecting her to not have a long life....

RIP Juanita...

 

[Scott H]

Thanks LM...she never was quite right. When I fed treats to them the other two could eat huge pieces and she would have to have hers cut up into chick sized pieces. Then she started gaping and making a honking noise periodically for a minute or so, then go back to acting normal. Think she was born that way. My wife's going to be bummed....

 

[mlowen]

...

Just had to cull our beautiful Juanita....she was the Silver Laced Wyandotte that never layed an egg but she was our buddy and Oprah's running mate especially when Tina was broody. Found her face down in the coop when I got home and she couldn't hold her head up. I was kinda expecting her to not have a long life....


I'm sorry, Scott. She certainly was a beauty.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Just had to cull our beautiful Juanita....she was the Silver Laced Wyandotte that never layed an egg but she was our buddy and Oprah's running mate especially when Tina was broody. Found her face down in the coop when I got home and she couldn't hold her head up. I was kinda expecting her to not have a long life.... RIP Juanita...

Oh what a fabulous beauty. RIP Jaunita.