Urgent Reminder-PLEASE Quarantine Newly Acquired Birds!

[arwmommy]

Speckled~
As someone who is offering up a 12 week old pullet on the Buy/Sell/Giveaway board, what can I do to insure that any potential buyer knows my bird is healthy? We have a small backyard flock and I am SCRUPULOUS about their care, and have never seen anything on them. Is there any testing/etc. I can do???

 

[speckledhen]

Honestly, I dont know what testing you personally can do. I have sold birds and all I can tell anyone is that my birds have never had any respiratory illnesses. You could yourself dust them for pests just to be sure they have none, but other than that, maybe someone can tell you about having them tested for certain things. Anyone buying your birds should do what I've recommended and quarantine them, just like you should quarantine any you buy from anyone else. Even though you and I may be scrupulous about the care of our chickens, they will come in contact with wild birds at some point and unless you have a very secure, bird-proof pen wrapped in hardware cloth that they never leave, it would be impossible to say they will never contract anything from wild birds, rodents, raccoons, etc. This is why anyone who buys birds must take precautions.
In my opinion, it is usually best to keep a closed flock by not buying any grown birds. If you do, the best way is to only purchase them from a flock certified NPIP; either that or buy from a hatchery or hatch your own. I know this limits you, but it sure gives you more peace of mind in the end.

 

[froggy]

this sounds good thank you but i bought 36 pullets in sparta tennessee and have lost most due to something wrong with them when i got them.

 

[speckledhen]

Did they infect your flock with anything? I sure hope not. As long as you follow the quarantine "protocol", then most of the time, you can stop a disease from running through your flock after accidentally bringing in an infected bird. I would much rather put down one bird than endanger my entire flock.

 

[s6bee]

Other than quarantine, is there a way to protect your flock? I have 4 week old chicks, still in the brooder ( hubby hasn't been as "speedy" as I'd like in getting the coop ready ), but see an ad for a 4 month old Easter Egger and would love to have one. The owner is moving so needs to find homes. Is there any type of "vaccination" I can give, in addition to quarantine? I am very new to this.

Thanks
Stephanie

 

[countrygirl4513]

Quote:
I agree. I don't buy adult birds there's just too much question in it. A friend of mine bought 6 full growns at the local auction, by the time she go home 1 was already dead and the others died soon after.

 

[speckledhen]

There is no vaccination that I would recommend for the Easter Egger. I would do just what I said. Keep it away from your chicks for at least a month-you may have a slight problem with the age difference and would want to also keep them separate AFTER the quarantine, if that goes well, maybe where they could all see each other, but no one would get picked on.
If the bird shows any signs of illness, especially discharges from eyes, nose, mouth, anything, dont continue with the plan to add it to yours.
countrygirl, that is a worst case scenario and an awful thing to happen to your friend. Some people just have no scruples and will pawn off sick birds at an auction without a second thought. We just need to be smart enough ourselves not to endanger the rest of our flock by bringing illness into it.

 

[indiansilky]

i hope itsnot too late , i have been away for a few weeks and came back to find we are "hen sitting", to 2 young birds. mixed "original" not battery pure white, local farm raised, bought off a travelling seller
what should i check for
i have two welsummers and 2 silkies ( 1 a dwarf)
i also have a pair of doves, is it possible to keep the doves in with the chicks or is that just asking for trouble?

 

[SoccerMomof7]

I have 3 pullets that I bought from a feed store. I have wondered if they were lice infested but everyone insisted that wasn't possible, since it's my first ones I didn't argue, so what do I use to get rid of them?

 

[Buff Hooligans]

SoccerMom, please click on the link below to see the lice problem addressed elsewhere:
(I hope this helps.)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=43559