Newcastle-Bronchitis Vaccine questions

[Farmer Viola]

I am planning to vaccinate my current batch of chicks with the Newcastle-Bronchitis Vaccine, in addition to Marek's vaccine which all my poultry have received. I recently had a chick die of repertory issues (see symptoms in thread here) and most of the symptoms match with infectious bronchitis but I am not 100% sure. I figure vaccinating against it is better than doing nothing for them.

I have some questions about also vaccinating my adult layer flock. The instructions specifically say to vaccinate healthy chickens. However, I have noticed 1 symptom in some of my flock, sneezing. They do not have nasal or eye discharge, OR the gasping/breathing problems that the dead chick had. I sometimes question whether I am overreacting about the sneezing, or if it is an indication of something much more serious. Really need experienced opinions on this one...

Newcastle-Bronchitis Vaccine link: http://www.jefferspet.com/newcastle-bronchitis-vaccine/camid/liv/cp/F7-J6/

• I am planning to vaccinate freshly hatched chicks, at 2 weeks and 4 weeks old
• what about layer flock? they are 7 months old
• what about adolescents? they are 2mos, 3mos and 4 months old
• will they be carriers of Newcastle and Bronchitis for life since they are vaccinated? Or is it like the Marek's vaccine which uses turkey marek's and thus cannot be passed between chickens?
• Is it safe to sell N-B vaccinated poultry? I keep a closed flock thusfar, but would like to know. All the chickens I have were hatched here at my house. The land has been used for poultry in the past however.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Anyone?

 

[Eggcessive]

First of all I am not an expert about vaccines. I do know that infectious bronchitis can make carriers of all chickens for up to a year after symptoms disappear. So, a simple way of preventing it would be to not breed any more birds for the next year or year and a half, so that the disease runs its course. Here are a couple of links about vaccinations that are good along with an excerpt from one that you may want to read first:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps030
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/377/small-flock-vaccination

Miscellaneous Respiratory Diseases Including: Newcastle's Disease, Infectious Bronchitis, Mycoplasmosis, Turkey and Chicken Coryza, and Avian Influenza
Poultry producers are frequently plagued by long-standing "colds" in their flocks. Symptoms in affected flocks include swelling around the eyes, runny noses, coughing, and poor weight gain. There are a number of diseases which cause respiratory illness in flocks, including the six diseases named above. While there are effective vaccines available to prevent these illnesses, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis first. For example, vaccinating with the Newcastle's disease vaccine when the flock is actually infected with Bronchitis virus can make the disease symptoms worse! Your veterinarian can recommend serology (blood testing), bacterial cultures, and virus isolation to find out what is causing problems on your farm. Many of these tests are available through the Veterinary Diagnostic Center, located at the East Campus of the University of Nebraska.

 

[Farmer Viola]

First of all I am not an expert about vaccines. I do know that infectious bronchitis can make carriers of all chickens for up to a year after symptoms disappear. So, a simple way of preventing it would be to not breed any more birds for the next year or year and a half, so that the disease runs its course. Here are a couple of links about vaccinations that are good along with an excerpt from one that you may want to read first:

by this, you mean that having the IB virus makes them carriers for a year, not that the IB vaccine makes them carriers for a year? do I understand you correctly? either way, this is now considered a closed flock and no birds will be going out, or coming in (not that they were anyway).

I could use the chicks hatching now as a test. Vaccinate them, add to flock, watch for symptoms to surface. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to have testing done on my flock at this time due to personal financial circumstances. It would cost me about $100 to have a bird tested and shipped. The vaccine is only $10 so it seems like an easy band-aid, if it is in fact IB.

I still question whether I should vac the layer flock for their safety. Maybe I will only do the adolescents and not the adults. I will take a look at the links you provided, thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

In my link in the previous post it means that if any chickens presently having IB, may develop much worse symptoms when receiving the Newcastle/IB vaccine. I think that is because Newcastles is a terribly serious disease that can cause horrible symptoms and wry neck. The most serious type of Newcastles is not found in the US, thank goodness. From all I have read on IB, it barely affects the hens with only sneezing and a little nasal drainage, but it is more severe in chicks. This is reprinted from The Poultry Site on IB:

Infection is via the conjunctiva or upper respiratory tract with an incubation period of 18-36 hours. The infection is highly contagious and spreads rapidly by contact, fomites or aerosol. Some birds/viral strains can be carriers to 1 year. The virus, which may survive 4 weeks in premises, is sensitive to solvents, heat (56°C for 15 mins), alkalis, disinfectants (Formal 1% for 3 mins). Poor ventilation and high density are predisposing factors.