Poorly chicken

[mullethunter]

I’m going to a poultry sale tomorrow. Probably just to have a look, but I wouldn’t mind a couple of young hens to join Duck when she joins the main flock. Duck (and her 2 boyfriends) is 5 weeks old now. If I were to try to introduce a couple of similar age girls in a couple of weeks would that be more straightforward than introducing adult hens to each other or just the same?

Edited August 24, 2018 by mullethunter

[Daphne]

I haven't done this so I'm not sure.  However, personally I wouldn't as growers are particularly vulnerable to illness (they haven't built up a full immunity to things) and I wouldn't want to introduce possible illness into my flock which can happen purely because the newbies have potentially been exposed to different stressors to your 3, who wouldn't necessarily be able to cope.  I know you would quarantine, but even so I just wouldn't take the risk. My view is that hatching and growing on involves a lot of work and I wouldn't want to jeopardise it and potentially stress your birds or the newbies.  I have bought in 8 week olds (a pair) and kept them separate till they were older (can't remember how old, at least 12 weeks, may have been older) and that worked fine.

[mullethunter]

Thanks Daphne. As it turns out I was too late after yoga and missed the bidding. Shame because look at these beautiful girls. There’s a show on in October on my birthday- hopefully they’ll have sale pens 😊

[Luvachicken]

Ohh those were so pretty.

Shame you missed out on them.

Fingers crossed that you get some more pretties on your birthday instead 

[Cat tails]

Gosh! Would have definitely bought those! Fingers crossed for more beauties!

[Lewis]

Agree with Daphne's reply above