Need advice on how to vaccinate

[Shared Acres]

Ok, I went to Jeffers online and ordered vaccinations for Mareks, Newcastle and Fowl Pox. (Going to get some more later when I find all the ones I want.)

I'm going to assume the best way to do this is to do one each week, so as not to overload their system.

I was looking at the double needle thing for the Fowl Pox one and reading the instructions and hubby kind of freaked out--can't hit bone, veins, etc.

Anyone have pictures on where and how to do this?
Are there any reasons I shouldn't do this myself?
Any other advice?

 

[pips&peeps]

I think you have to wait 4-6 weeks between each vaccine. It should be on the label.

 

[Shared Acres]

I meant, I bought 3 different vaccines, how long should I wait before administering each. As I think doing all three vaccines on the same day would be too much on the bird.

 

[Shared Acres]

Anyone?

Anyone else vaccinate? Any advice?

 

[pips&peeps]

Read the label. You have to wait 4-6 weeks between each vaccine, you cannot give them all three at once.

 

[cgmccary]

Sometimes, the recommended age is different (or doesn't matter): Marek's at 1 day old. I did Fowl Pox and Laryngo at the same time (and at the age recommended).

There are 2 kinds of Fowl Pox vaccine-- one is for juvenile birds and it tells you the age to give and you have to revaccinate with the adult fowl pox version. Fowl Pox is by wing web; Laryngo was by occular; Marek's is in the thigh skin or skin of neck. You can't give the adult fowl pox to a juvenile bird.

Otherwise, you can give all on same day, same time; it will not over-tax their immune systems.

 

[Shared Acres]

Thanks for that info.

Is there anything that I should be weary of? I'm afraid I'm going to stab them in the wrong area or something.

 

[Judy]

On not hitting bone, vein, etc. Do what we did in nurses training.

Get a syringe and needle from the feed store and an orange. Practice filing the syringe, popping it into the orange, and withdrawing. In and out quickly. Get comfortable with filling the syringe. Then learn to pull back slightly on the plunger while the needle is in the orange. In a real animal, if you are in a vein, this will draw a bit of blood into the barrel of the syringe, so you will know not to inject there. Usually you can then withdraw the needle a tiny bit and try again, not get blood, and inject. If you hit bone, you will feel it; just pull back a bit. With a little practice you will learn how far to put the needle in.

In an actual medication vial, you will probably have to inject a bit of air in before withdrawing the medicine, or there will be so much vacuum after a few doses that you can't get the med out. (I am guessing these vaccines come in multiple dose vials.)

Just get comfortable with handling the syringe first and you will do fine.

 

[Shared Acres]

Thanks for the advice!

I think I'll be ok, just scared to stick where I'm not supposed to.

One of them it had a double needle (looked like sewing machine needles!) and no push part that I saw. You were supposed to dip it in the vaccine I think. Ugh.