Hatched new chicks and I'm wondering about inoculations?

[Joseph Chicken]

I have 6 adult chickens I bought from tractor supply back in February and I hatched out 11 chicks 2 weeks ago. My sister brought to my attention that I should vaccinate them. I never thought of this before. I know tractor supply said they vaccinated my adults prior to store delivery but I've never thought twice about them or these new chicks prior to my sister bringing it to my attention. I have no issues with any of them. These are my first chickens I've ever been around so I'm new to this. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Pyxis]

I never vaccinate my chicks. What your sister was likely talking about was the vaccination for Marek's disease, which hatcheries do vaccinate against if you pay for that service. I'm not sure that Tractor Supply does pay to have their chicks vaccinated.

If you already have Marek's in your flock, then yes, you would want to vaccinate the chicks to keep them from dying. The vaccine won't stop them from actually getting the disease, it would just hopefully keep the symptoms from killing them.

If your flock doesn't already have Marek's, I don't think I would bother with it, especially since you would need to buy a 1000 dose bottle that you're going to use barely any of before you need to throw it away, and then you'll also have to pay for ice packs, a cooler, and overnight shipping to get it to you.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have never known any feed store to have their chicks vaccinated. They sell their birds at a cut rate price. Vaccinations cost money (though it's negligible in the long term scheme of things.) If TSC or any other feed store tells you the chicks have been vaccinated, I'd accept this information with a grain of salt, only believing it to be so if they told you where the chicks were vaccinated, (at the hatchery?) what they were vaccinated for? (could be Marek's, coccidiosis, or possibly some other disease) and then, I'd be asking to show an invoice as proof of vaccination.

Personally, I choose not to have any of my chicks vaccinated, whether they come from hatchery or my own incubator. IMO, Marek's vaccine causes more harm than good.

 

[Joseph Chicken]

Thank y'all! This is the way I felt also about vaccination. Figured I'd only need to if I had an issue. THC had told me that their supplier vaccinates at 2nd day of hatch. I never asked what for but the lady knew the answer right away. Either way I'm just glad to know the information y'all provided. Thanks again!

 

[Folly's place]

Having chicks vaccinated for Marek's disease at the hatchery before they are shipped is a good thing, but TSC doesn't have it done anywhere I'm aware of, because it costs a few extra cents per chick. It really matters if you have Marek's disease in your flock; otherwise, for home use, most of us don't bother.
People that show chickens, and commercial egg producers, have a list of vaccinations that are done over time with their chicks. Again, not important for backyard poultry, unless you are very careless with biosecurity (then it's too late!) or very unlucky. Mary