Adding in adult chickens!?!??!?

[rosemarysugar]

I'm thinking about adding in an adult Rooster and hen. I have herd lot of people say that they added in the adult chickens even after quarantining them for a month ALL OF THERE original flock got sick and DIED!!!!
I previously got 9 week old hens from McMurray Hatchery and they had a raspatory infection, BUT we treated it and introduced them and every one was fine. If we check the adult chicken for illness will the original flock be fine!?!??!!??

CAN YOU INTRODUCE JUST A ROOSTER!?!?

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes you can introduce just a rooster, as long as you don't already have a rooster. It is usually the easiest of introductions if he is full grown. There may be a little bluffing and squawking, but in my experience, all in love before morning. Personally I think you need at least 8 birds for a rooster, and you need more space when you have a flock with a rooster.

If you add a rooster and a hen, both from a previous flock, I would expect them to be in love with the rooster, and meaner than hell to the hen. A single hen is a very tough integration.

As for disease, generally speaking healthy looks healthy. However, if you would go into a state of decline if you lost your flock, then do not add birds. If you are getting birds through an auction, where as the birds have been exposed to who knows what... you need to seriously follow all the rules of quarantine, which is 300 foot separation, total change of clothes and shoes, and separate feed and water.

Most people cannot do a true quarantine, and just pretend. If you can't do one, no need to pretend.

If you are getting from another backyard hobbiest who has a similar set up as yours, and has not been exposed to other birds... healthy looks healthy, I would not worry about adding them, but there is a risk, much smaller than from an auction.

I have added birds many times, never a problem. Some people have lost their whole flocks, it is a risk, you have to decide if you can do it. DO NOT EVER ADD BIRDS you feel sorry for.

Mrs K