New pullets need quarantine advice please :)

[Duckfarmerpa1]

The biggest fear I know of when bringing birds into your flock is Marek's because once it is in your soil it is there pretty much forever and all future chickens will be exposed. Some birds will be relatively resistant, many will die. If you know Microchick on BYC she's had to deal with this. Pretty heartbreaking to watch your flock drop one bird at a time. I think pretty much any other transmittable chicken disease can be treated.

I've only gotten day olds from major hatcheries so I don't have concerns about putting them in a brooder in the coop with the older girls. Like @Xerocles, I wouldn't buy a chicken at a swap, that seems like Russian Roulette to me. But if you know where these girls came from is clean, I mean KNOW, as he stated, not just have an address to pick them up, I might isolate near the existing flock as you have suggested. Otherwise I think the rabbit hutches a good distance from the current flock would be in order. I have several girls that spend a week a few times a year in a broody buster about the same size as those cages. Your biggest problem will be keeping unfrozen water available.

And I apologize for whoever was rude or condescending on BYC. Sadly I know several people who have bailed on that site for that very reason. I don't know why people can't give constructive criticism rather than dumping on someone who poses a question.

Thank you so much for you nice words....the birds are very healthy... I believe. I do know of Merck’s and... I would be heartbroken. We built a coop larger than the hutches and put it by the others but hopefully the barriers are good enough to be safe. Its not 100 feet but the other option was calling my young flock too far from where I felt they were safe...I’m praying it all works out. I have my Corid on hand just in case anyone even looks sick.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

I agree with @Baymule give them a 30 day vacation in the rabbit hotels just to be on the safe side!

They’re not great pictures but the silver laced blend in with the background...next time

Tell you what. I'll join you on your "walk of shame". Now, yes, technically the bullies on BYC are right. And if I had registered show birds that could sell for $200/pair.....I would use every precaution in the book (in fact, I DO have an isolation coop, over 100 yards from the main run, with separate everything. I was beset by the BYCbullies also).
But.
Lets be reasonable here. If you know where the new chickens come from, and you saw their environment and it was clean, and the chickens look healthy....I would, and will take the chance. Just realize that you ARE taking a chance, and things COULD go bad. Be prepared for the worst and know you're not going to beat yourself up too much if the worst should happen.
But, to hear the "experts" talk, every chicken in the world (except theirs) is a "typhoid Mary" just waiting to decimate your flock. Fact is, the VAST MAJORITY of us have perfectly, or relatively healthy flocks. Now, I wouldn't buy a chicken from a flea market or someplace like that. Well, I guess I could leave that statement at that. I wouldn't. But what I was about to say I wouldn't do THAT without quarentine.
But I just can't live my life in a state of paranoia. Think it out. Take reasonable precautions, and realize we're dealing with relatively inexpensive stock. Now, if those are your dear darling beloved pets you have there, and you're one of those snowflakes like the lady on BYC who spent $650 on the vet for her unregistered chicken, then by all means, build or have built, a quarentine run.
Bottom line, YOUR decision, your comfort level. Do what you can live with. But I'm with hubby on this one.

nicely put! He’ll love that! I was doing my barn work till past 10:30ish..and he was building a coop! What a dear! It’s not pretty, but it has roosts. Ventilation....enough square footage...so, I think it’ll do...it’s closer than we wanted...do to electrical outlets....and the free rangers. I wanted to put it on the other side of the shed...it’s across the driveway, etc...but the cockerels made their way over, and well... I don’t want them over there..so we putt it a little closer than I wanted..near the other coops..but there’s a barrier..so..I’m hoping that helps? Praying...I dosed them with dewormer... I use herbal...they did too...I realize it’s sometimes ot as effective but I was nervous and just put a scoop in the feed and figured I run a fecal float in a few days. Ugh?

 

[B&B Happy goats]

We are enablers....nice to have you join us

 

[Baymule]

We are enablers, more is always better! I thought it was the golden standard to get animals first, then figure out what to do with them. You sound pretty darn organized to me!

 

[Xerocles]

Terrible looking chickens and I can tell from the picture that they're disease infested.
So, in the name of chicken neighborliness, I'll rush right over and take them off your hands.
Good looking chickens. Congratulations....and quit worrying so much.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

We are enablers, more is always better! I thought it was the golden standard to get animals first, then figure out what to do with them. You sound pretty darn organized to me!

Lol...that is sooo funny..you golden standard! The organized part too. My hubby just wishes I would quit reading the internet.... poor guy, he just wants to watch some racing .

 

[Bruce]

Thanks soo much everyone for all the tips..and for not scolding me for jumping into more birds.

Chicken math, it happens!! I started with 12 in 2012, got more 4 times now. Had some losses so the current total is 23 including 3 of the 2012 girls. I think thereabouts has to be my max, I have a hard time counting that many to make sure they are all in at night! It would be helpful if they would all line up, maybe even count off, but they don't.

I agree, those birds look darn healthy from the pictures. Clear eyes, shiny feathers.

 

[Xerocles]

@Duckfarmerpa1 since you're already a member of BYC (and anyone else who would like an appropriate chuckle), may I suggest you read "Chicken Math 101 - with Quiz." on their site. Are you really sure you have as many chickens as you think? Maybe not. It's worth reading.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Chicken math, it happens!! I started with 12 in 2012, got more 4 times now. Had some losses so the current total is 23 including 3 of the 2012 girls. I think thereabouts has to be my max, I have a hard time counting that many to make sure they are all in at night! It would be helpful if they would all line up, maybe even count off, but they don't.

I agree, those birds look darn healthy from the pictures. Clear eyes, shiny feathers.

Yeah, and I looked them over for lice pretty good..they have great temperments..so calm. That’s nice. So, hopefully all goes well. Typically with me..it’s ducks that multiply, but, this time..... Just think of all the loot I’ll make once they start poppinout the eggs!

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

@Duckfarmerpa1 since you're already a member of BYC (and anyone else who would like an appropriate chuckle), may I suggest you read "Chicken Math 101 - with Quiz." on their site. Are you really sure you have as many chickens as you think? Maybe not. It's worth reading.

I read that when I first joined..funny..
duck math got ahold of me..one for me, one for my dog, one for aunt Helen, one for good measure.might as well get ten more sincere we already have, etc..etc... that’s what happened yester..we went to buy ten pullets...but, then Chris said...we’ll, since were here...we might as well get two more....