Chick Vaccinations?

Date sort Score sort
louclare

louclare

In the Brooder
8 Years
Mar 5, 2011
59
1
41
We have 8 3 week old chicks. 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 1 Rhode Island Red, 2 Easter-eggers, 1 Americana .
Do They need any vaccinations to keep them healthy?
Thanks!
 
I've found that this is a highly controversial topic. Not sure why, though.

I had no clue about vaccinations until my urban flock was almost a year old. There just isn't enough information on vaccination protocols out there.

I routinely vaccinate all newly hatched chicks for Mareks now and will be starting a vaccination regiment for Fowl Pox every 6 months on my older birds. I bought the Newcastle's vaccine a while back but never ended up using it because I couldn't get enough information to make an educated decision.

Mareks vaccinations are usually done on day old chicks. At this point it is up to you if you want to vaccinate them but if it were me, I'd do it especially if they were hatched at home and kept in a brooder away from exposure to other birds. Sometimes it's better late than never
smile.png
 
I've heard alot of pro's and cons about this but personally I think, why not? It's just protecting them so I don't seem a huge harm, I'd rather have them vaccinated than worry about if they'll get it.
I've yet to give any shots so I can't help you Myles, sorry.
 
Hold on, we just went through all this in the AZ thread. copying and pasting for you now.
 
constance wrote:
THANK YOU!

May I ask another question or two? I was only thinking of Mareks, but it looks like you vaccinate for Fowl Pox, too. Anything else?

I have not vaccinated chicks before, and I can't vaccinate until my chicks arrive, so they will be 3-days old, which I know is not ideal. In terms of giving the vaccination, what should I watch out for? Do you have any tips?

Thanks again!

I try to vaccinate for everything. I had something come through last year and kill off 50+ birds over 3 months. I lost my entire next generation.

So--- I try to vaccinate for anything I can, that makes monetary sense. Fowl Pox, NewCastle/Infectious Bronchitis, Marek's....probably something else.

Most of the vaccines are super-cheap. It is the shipping that will kill you.

You will need to keep the Marek's vaccinated chicks away from the adult birds for 2 weeks (at least) 30 days (ideal). They CAN NOT give marek's to the adult birds, but the adult birds CAN still give the chicks Marek's during that time frame. If you mix the chicks into the general population before then, it is a gamble: What will affect chickie first? The vaccine or the live virus?​

Gallo del Cielo wrote:
constance wrote:
Given Laree and Pastrymama's experience, the increased popularity and proximity of neighborhood chickens, and my huge wild bird population, I think I am going to vaccinate with Marek's, Fowl Pox, and Newcastle/Bronchitis. They have all occurred in AZ. Plus Laree is right, once you are paying for shipping, might as well go all the way.

The specter of a flock in the grips of Marek's sickens me. I can only imagine how I would feel if it happened and I could have prevented it. Yeah, look how many backyards in the short distance between you and I have chickens already. The worst part is I'm pretty sure we're sharing the same wild bird population. Constance, you've seen my situation, how would I really quarantine them from one another anyway unless they are kept inside? I live on a postage stamp. Will my broody hen be sad if I take her chicks away?

Vaccinate the chicks and stick them back under the broody.

If you have Marek's in your flock, then they are already at risk of being exposed--or have already been exposed. Now begins the race of which will kick in first, the vaccine or Marek's.

Having chicks is a gamble anyway. Better to stack your deck if you can.

Marek's is not necessarily a death sentence for your birds. There are three forms of lesions that can occur: lesions on the throat/bronchial tubes, lesions in the eye, and lesions in the brain. Lesions on the brain is usually the fatal one: but some birds recover and have seizures or are sorta retarded from then on.

New Castle/Infectious bronchitis: 8 weeks (?) or older. (Fort Dodge) Vaccine aids in prevention of Newcastle Disease and infectious bronchitis, Massachusetts Type and Connecticut Strain. Can be given intranasally (1 drop in the nostril), intraocular (1 drop in the eye), or in the drinking water.


New Castle Lasota: 2 weeks or older. Can be given in water or aerosol form.
Recommended for administration to healthy chickens as an aid in the prevention of Newcastle disease. The vaccine is recommended for the vaccination of healthy chickens 14 days or older by drinking water administration or by aerosol spray. Spray vaccination is recommended for revaccination only.


Fowl/Pox vaccine: for chickens 1 day or older. Vaccine must be administered under the skin. Wing or back of neck OK.
(Fort Dodge) Vaccine aids in the prevention of Fowl Pox. Used in broilers, commercial layers and breeder chickens as an initial vaccination. Approved for wing web administration. For use in 1 day old chicks or older.​
 
In short:

Not all vaccines are shots.

If you have to do a shot--try to do it when they are young, or after dark when all chickens are zombies.

Unless you have moral adversions to vaccines, I feel it is better to cover your bases, rather than grab your rear end, jump in, and hope for the best.
 

Similar threads

JessicaPoff
Gender on chicks
Replies
2
Views
176
NatJ
NatJ
Friendthechicken
    • Like
Breed choices: what should I get??
2 3 4
Replies
37
Views
3K
Venumfire
Venumfire
M
Can vaccinated chicks spread Marek's to unvaccinated chicks?
Replies
6
Views
137
K0k0shka
K0k0shka
V
    • Like
Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Chicks
2
Replies
13
Views
624
VTChick10
V
D
5 week old chicks growing drastically different from each other.
2
Replies
15
Views
578
DarkAngel77
D

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom