I’m new to chickens. I think I messed up help

[Kmore]

I’m brand new to back yard chickens. When I placed my order with Myers Hatchery I told him I wanted to raise my breeds organically. I was not instructed on what to do with vaccinations by them. I personally didn’t do enough research I’m now seeing on vaccinations and now I think I screwed up. I have eight girls that were delivered today which is April 10, 2019 and they’re all different breeds. They are three days old. I didn’t get any of them vaccinated at all. Oh no I didn’t understand that this was so important to do. Is it too late? Should I worry about them getting the M disease? I don’t know what to do. I started them on scratch and peck organic chick feed and grits but I did purchase some dumor 20% medicated feed too. Should I give them both feeds to illuminate the C disease? I am so scared. I feel so guilty not understanding the diseases and what the vaccinations help with. Please help. KT

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Welcome to BYC!

I think they’ll be fine, I ordered 19 chicks from a hatchery last year and didn’t have them vaccinated, but did give them medicated feed ( up to about 4-6 weeks I think... basically till the 50 lb bag ran out)... and they all did just fine.

I’m not that well versed on medications and diseases of chickens... but as I recall the medicated feed just helps them build immunity to one specific common disease.

Do you have other specific diseases in your area? Or just a general concern?

 

[Chelsea-85]

They will be fine if you take care of them in terms of fresh water, weather, good quality food and well-organized coop. I personally never had my chicks and hens vaccinated, yet non of them got ill.

 

[Shadrach]

Hello Kmore.
Welcome to BYC.
You can get chicks vaccinated for Mareks disease. There is considerable debate regarding how effective the vaccines are.
For Coccidia, medicated feed is one possibility. but lots of people raise chicks just on ordinary chick starter feed and they are fine.
What I would recommend is you buy a bottle of Corrid or similar so if one of your chicks does get coccidiosis you have the medication on hand.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

Welcome to BYC!
I would not worry to much as there is debate on how effective the vaxs are I say this based on my own experience of vaxed chickens, I had to put a hen down last year of a disease she was vaxed for and later found out even with her being vaxed she could still get the disease and if cured she would still be a carrier and could give it to others.

I have raised well over 100 chicks in the last year without them being vaxed and have kept up with most of the buyers to see how the health of the chickens are which they are fine. thats not to say I did not lose a few to reason beyong my control.

My current flock of roughly 40 hens all but 6 are unvaxed and they fine. But thats not to say I don't have corrid or other stuff on hand if things go wrong if one shows cocci I treat the whole flock. I did also buy medicated feed for my unvaxed chicks to be safe as well. I think your doing great so far and don't feel bad about not getting them vaxed and rushing in we all do goodness knows I ran head first into it with out 100% thinking