Do adult chickens need to be vaccinated??

[CrazyChicLady]

Hey guys!
I have several chickens and a few roos that were rescues from various sources. They are separated from the rest of my regular flock. I was just wondering if they need to be vaccinated for anything? Not knowing what there records are I'm curious. I have all of my chicks vaccinated (of course). I have always hatched and raised my own chics, never taken in any adults until now. These guys will not be used for consumption or counted on for eggs. Little help..... Thanks!

 

[sumi]

Whether or you vaccinate is a personal choice, you don't "need to". But I believe in "prevention is better than cure", so I'd say it's a good idea. Here's very good article on the different vaccinations:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps030

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree, it is a personal choice. Before I got my first chickens after I moved here, I researched what diseases are prevalent in this area. There had been one case of Marek’s reported in this county in the previous two years for example. Not much of a threat.

Another issue is how you manage them. I keep a closed flock. I don’t show them, don’t go to chicken swaps, and don’t bring home strange chickens. The only way I bring in fresh genetics is to get hatching eggs locally or get chicks from an established hatchery. The disease threat in this area and my chance of infecting them is really low because of the way I manage them. I have no idea how prevalent diseases are in your specific area. You mange yours differently than I do. I don’t know what the right decision is for you. For me it was an easy decision to not vaccinate them for anything.