Messed up quarantine, what now?

[EssJay3103]

Hi everyone, new to the forum, and a relatively new chicken keeper (one year three).
I'd only had one group of hens initially, but over the years they have died off leaving one girl alone.
I recently brought two new hens home, and set up a quarantine pen outside of, but directly alongside my current chicken run with my one remaining hen.
I knew I needed to quarantine, but made the mistake of not looking into the details of how to quarantine.
I guess my idea was that they could see each other and get used to each other but be quarantined... however obviously I was wrong, I needed MUCH more space between them.
To be fair, I live in the suburbs, so probably 20ft is the furthest I could have even gotten them from one another - yet currently they are right next to each other.
I've learned my lesson and am stressed now.
My question is... there's nothing to do now (nearly 4 days in) right? The damage has been done and now I just need to carefully watch everyone? I still plan to wait 4-6 weeks to integrate them though.

 

[aart]

My question is... there's nothing to do now (nearly 4 days in) right?

Correct.
Best of cLuck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Glad you joined.

I recently brought two new hens home,
I still plan to wait 4-6 weeks to integrate them though.

How old are the new ones? Why are you planning to wait that long? You probably don't need to wait that long but how mature the new ones are will have a big effect on integration.

now I just need to carefully watch everyone?

Yes, watch all three of them. It is possible your old hen could give the new ones something. It's possible the new hens will give her something.

Before they can give the other something they have to have it to start with. It is possible one could have something that they can give to the others. It is highly unlikely that one will have a life-threatening or crippling disease or parasite they could pass on but it is possible. That does not happen that often but it is possible.

If they do pass anything on it is more likely to be something that is more of an inconvenience than a serious threat. Worms, mites, or lice are no fun but they are certainly treatable.

It is also possible and fairly common that no one has anything to pass on. Quarantine is a good idea when you can manage it, but a good quarantine can be difficult. Diseases and parasite can spread by them sharing common ground, eating or drinking from common containers, by vectors (like mosquitoes, wild songbirds, grasshoppers, earthworms or grubs), or by blowing in the wind. The better separation the better your quarantine. 20 feet is better than nothing but a quarter mile is better. Most of us can't do that.

I agree with Aart, it is too late. I'd think your odds are really good that you will be OK but you never know. It is just odds.

Good luck!

 

[aart]

One thing you can still do.....

Check them over real well for mites and/or lice:

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Look fast, they will scatter quickly once the feathers are parted and the light hits them.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[EssJay3103]

One thing you can still do.....

Check them over real well for mites and/or lice:

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Look fast, they will scatter quickly once the feathers are parted and the light hits them.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

Thanks so much - I did this and will continue to do so. My vet sent me with some kind of spray that's direct application safe, so I've been spraying them, dusting DE, and changing shoes/not direct contaminating. I'll continue to look - thanks!

 

[EssJay3103]

How old are the new ones? Why are you planning to wait that long?

Thanks so much, the new ones are around two years old and OG Hen (Britney) is about three years old. They're all RIR/Red Comet mixes.
I read online that this was the most appropriate amount of time - but since I messed up, I can probably wait until they seem calm around one another.
My vet gave me a mite spray, told me dust with DE and to keep up my "change shoes & don't cross equipment" rule going strong. He's also prescribed dewormer for them all to start at the same time, preventatively.
I guess at this point the separation is mostly for worms and socialization. My girl is at the tail end of her molt and one of the new girls is maybe 75% done molting. Maybe I'll just wait until they're both done molting.

 

[aart]

My vet sent me with some kind of spray that's direct application safe

What is the sprays active ingredient?
Not good to spray insecticides when there is no infestation.
...and DE won't do anything, save your money/efforts there.