eggs from doubtful source

[catrockfarm]

I got some eggs from a person that I don't know at all. Just saw her note at the local Farmer's Co-op . I have them in the incubator and I'm wondering if I need to worry about disease. Will Mareks or other diseases be passed on through the eggs if her hens have them? Didn't think of this till now and eggs will hatch in 6 days.

 

[dandrews1971]

From what I understand, Marek's is not passed through the egg membranes. Good luck.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Mareks isn't transferred through the egg. However, it is considered to be everywhere so I would make arrangements to vaccinate your day old chicks if you are worried about it. You usually can obtain the vaccine online. There are instructions on the web on how to give the vaccine.
There are egg transmitted diseases also, but nothing you can do about that at this point but hope for the best. Keep their water as clean as possible because that is one way of disease transmission. If any chicks appear sick in the first couple of weeks it would be best to put them in a different brooder just in case. Have some vitamin and electrolyte powder ready for their water just in case. It won't cure them, but it could help them. Most early chick problems are usually vitamin or mineral deficiencies in the egg.

 

[catrockfarm]

Thank you

 

[catrockfarm]

Thanks to all who answered. Hope all goes well. Some of the eggs in the incubator are from my own hens which I raised from chicks bought at Tractor Supply so I feel pretty confident about them. So I'm thinking I may just watch closely and immediately remove any chicks hatching from the doubtful eggs and place them in a separate brooder until I feel sure they are going to be okay. As far as vaccinating myself, I've never done that but guess I can. I have vaccinated my dogs but chicks.....well that's a little different.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Thanks to all who answered. Hope all goes well. Some of the eggs in the incubator are from my own hens which I raised from chicks bought at Tractor Supply so I feel pretty confident about them. So I'm thinking I may just watch closely and immediately remove any chicks hatching from the doubtful eggs and place them in a separate brooder until I feel sure they are going to be okay. As far as vaccinating myself, I've never done that but guess I can. I have vaccinated my dogs but chicks.....well that's a little different.

If you are going to vaccinate your day old chicks, make sure you have a helper and the right size syringe and needles. A 1 mm syringe and a 22ga needle works best. Just follow the directions you find online for vaccinating for Mareks and don't panic!

 

[catrockfarm]

Thanks so much. And may I say your user name cracks me up. Love it.

 

[MrsBachbach]

Thanks.