1. ISOLATE NEW FLOCK MATES: Any new birds you bring home, whether they’re shipped from a hatchery, purchased at a feed-supply store or adopted from an online ad, should be kept separate from your flock for 30 days. The United States Department of Agriculture also recommends a two-week quarantine for any birds that have attended a fair or exhibition.
2. PROTECT CHICKEN FEED: Wild birds will mingle with your chickens, sharing illnesses and even parasites. If your flock free-ranges, devise a system that limits wild-bird access, whether it’s by using a special feeder or by feeding only what the flock will eat at regular intervals throughout the day.