What is the proper procedure when introducing new birds to your home flock?

The proper procedure when introducing new birds to your home flock is to check for disease and quarantine them for three weeks. This step is crucial because it allows the detection of any potential illnesses that the new birds might carry, which could spread to your existing flock, causing health issues or even mortality. Quarantining the new birds helps to ensure that they are healthy and reduces the risk of disease transmission.

During the quarantine period, the new birds should be kept separate from the established flock. This allows you to monitor them for signs of illness and gives time to ensure they are acclimating and healthy before they come into contact with your other birds. Additionally, this practice prevents the spread of any pathogens that could be present in the new birds.

The other options are not advisable because they do not prioritize the health and safety of the existing flock. Allowing new birds to roam free immediately or mixing them with the existing birds straight away exposes the healthy birds to potential diseases. Feeding them only special food does not address the critical need to ensure overall health status and can lead to nutritional imbalances if the special food is not appropriate for all birds involved.