Adding new Birds

Quarantining poultry means putting new birds in a separate area as far away from your current flock as practical to prevent potential disease transmission. New hens/pullets or chicks that you would like to add to your flock should be quarantined for at least 10 days before you integrate them into your flock. This will prevent any active pathogens from passing from your new arrivals to the rest of your flock. If any of your new birds show any clinical signs, such as diarrhea, wheezing, etc., those birds should not be integrated with your flock. You should instead consider having those birds necropsied (aka the animal version of an autopsy) to see if they are carriers of any infectious disease. At the minimum, a veterinarian who can help you consider treatment options should see them. This type of approach is fundamental toward preventing new diseases from coming into your existing flock.