Having a broody hen raise chicks for me?

[ncomp]

I'm conflicted. I have six hens, two of them (Phoenix's) go broody at least three to four times a year. I want to put that broodiness to good use by letting them hatch out some fertilized eggs for me, but all my hens are vaccinated against Marek's and coccidiosis. Because of this, I feed an organic, unmedicated feed. I'm worried if I get hatching eggs, as opposed to day-old chicks, I won't be able to have them vaccinated, and then I should feed a medicated feed. I have read not to feed medicated feed to vaccinated chickens.

Has anyone been able to find ovo-vaccinated hatching eggs anywhere? Or am I stuck with trying to time a day-old chick delivery with the next time my hen goes broody?

 

[DobieLover]

My original birds and the second batch I purchased at a hatchery were all vaccinated for Marek's.
I have hatched out of my own flock with my roosters. I have purchased hatching eggs twice. The hens feed the chicks whatever she wants. What she finds outside for them and she takes them to the feeder and picks out the food and gives it to them. I only feed Flock Raiser with oyster shell in separate containers on the side for free choice feeding by the active layers. Never had an issue with any of the birds raised by my broody hens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

all my hens are vaccinated against Marek's and coccidiosis. Because of this, I feed an organic, unmedicated feed. I'm worried if I get hatching eggs, as opposed to day-old chicks, I won't be able to have them vaccinated, and then I should feed a medicated feed. I have read not to feed medicated feed to vaccinated chickens.

You are way overthinking it. The medicated feed has absolutely nothing to do with Marek's. Don't even think of those two in the same paragraph, let alone the same sentence. No connection whatsoever. As far as Marek's is concerned it doesn't matter what you feed.

I usually ask if the medicine in the medicated feed is Amprolium. It usually is Amprolium but whether it is Amprolium or something else it doesn't matter in your case. It takes two to three weeks for the vaccination for Coccidiosis to establish immunity in the chicks. That is when you don't want to feed medicated feed or give them any antibiotic, the first three weeks. If you feed Amprolium or antibiotics in the three weeks after the vaccination you can negate the vaccination. After that it doesn't matter if they eat medicated feed or antibiotics, or unmedicated feed. It will not affect the vaccinations.

 

[Perris]

I would get the hatching eggs, and continue with the feed you're currently using. The chicks will build immunity to whatever is endemic on your property, without vaccination and without medicated feed, and the rest of the flock can continue with their established regime too. And you'll avoid subjecting your chicks to being shipped live.

 

[igorsMistress]

Medicated feed is only for coccidiosis and has nothing to do with Marek’s.

I have never fed medicated feed to any chickens and my flock isn’t vaccinated for anything. In nature, chicks get their immunity from getting into the dirt and being exposed to the world. Having corid on hand just in case may be helpful for coccidiosis treatment if necessary. Marek’s vaccination must occur prior to chicks being exposed to the virus and they need 4 to 7 days before exposure for the vaccine to work. In reality the vaccine does not prevent Marek’s, it simply masks the symptoms.

Provided your feed is intended for chicks, don’t change the feed. If it’s a layer ration it will have too much calcium, but your older birds can eat chick food with no issues. You may need to increase oyster shell availability for their calcium needs.