Can I vaccinate five-month-old chickens?

[lynviviana]

Hello. I am Quite new to the chicken industry. I have owned chickens before but it is my first time owning 60 at a time for egg production. I have made mistakes along the way and have learned from them however there is one that I like to correct if possible. My question is: can I vaccinate five month old chickens for fowlpox? They have already started laying eggs it’ll be three weeks on Sunday. Will this affect egg production? Thank you for your time.

 

[nuthatched]

I've never heard of a fowl pox vaccine. I thoughthe chicken vaccine had to administered after hatch but I don't know.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hello. I am Quite new to the chicken industry. I have owned chickens before but it is my first time owning 60 at a time for egg production. I have made mistakes along the way and have learned from them however there is one that I like to correct if possible. My question is: can I vaccinate five month old chickens for fowlpox? They have already started laying eggs it’ll be three weeks on Sunday. Will this affect egg production? Thank you for your time.

Even if your birds catch Fowl Pox, it'll run it's coarse, within about a few weeks, & your birds will be immune for life.

 

[Briosafarm]

Yes, you can. Many chicken keepers vaccinate for fowl pox annually, especially those who live where mosquitoes are prevalent. Do all your chickens at the same if possible or within a couple of days, don't mix them with unvaccinated chickens for at least 5 weeks, and revaccinate annually. I don't know whether the vaccine can affect egg production temporarily (I'm guessing not much since many breeders use it) but if they get dry or wet pox if will definitely have a bad effect on egg production for weeks at least.

 

[Briosafarm]

Even if your birds catch Fowl Pox, it'll run it's coarse, within about a few weeks, & your birds will be immune for life.

That can be true if they get the dry pox form, but if they come down with wet pox it can be fatal.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That can be true if they get the dry pox form, but if they come down with wet pox it can be fatal.

I was referring to dry pox.

 

[lynviviana]

I’m not sure where you’re from but I’m from the US and there is a fowl pox vaccine.
According to my research and according to what my dad has said you’re supposed to do it when they’re only a few weeks old

Yes, you can. Many chicken keepers vaccinate for fowl pox annually, especially those who live where mosquitoes are prevalent. Do all your chickens at the same if possible or within a couple of days, don't mix them with unvaccinated chickens for at least 5 weeks, and revaccinate annually. I don't know whether the vaccine can affect egg production temporarily (I'm guessing not much since many breeders use it) but if they get dry or wet pox if will definitely have a bad effect on egg production for weeks at least.

i appreciate you. This is what I was looking for.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I’m not sure where you’re from but I’m from the US and there is a fowl pox vaccine.
According to my research and according to what my dad has said you’re supposed to do it when they’re only a few weeks old

i appreciate you. This is what I was looking for.

I know this was a bit ago, but wanted to add my 2 cents.
Recommended to do yearly from age 8 weeks in mosquito prevalent tropical areas. I do it annually. Whole flock at once. If I have any youngsters, I wait to vaccinate the whole flock until the littles are 8 weeks of age. You can get from Jeffers Pet and Valley Vet online. It is easy, done through the wing web and the birds apparently do not have any nerves there, as there is little objection from them. There are some great You Tube videos that show how to do it.
Dry pox is ugly but not fatal. Wet pox can be a painful death. No cure other than supportive care. They can get both kinds from the same virus. It is related to herpes.
Good luck.

 

[lynviviana]

I know this was a bit ago, but wanted to add my 2 cents.
Recommended to do yearly from age 8 weeks in mosquito prevalent tropical areas. I do it annually. Whole flock at once. If I have any youngsters, I wait to vaccinate the whole flock until the littles are 8 weeks of age. You can get from Jeffers Pet and Valley Vet online. It is easy, done through the wing web and the birds apparently do not have any nerves there, as there is little objection from them. There are some great You Tube videos that show how to do it.
Dry pox is ugly but not fatal. Wet pox can be a painful death. No cure other than supportive care. They can get both kinds from the same virus. It is related to herpes.
Good luck.

Happy to report that they all left that nasty dry pox behind.. all have recovered and are doing well. It was a horrible few weeks but we made it.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Happy to report that they all left that nasty dry pox behind.. all have recovered and are doing well. It was a horrible few weeks but we made it.

Great to hear it. They can get it again, as there are different strains of the virus, just an FYI. Normally second infections are not as severe though.