Official BYC Poll: Are You Comfortable Injecting Vaccines or Medications Into Your Birds?

[Ponypoor]

Have enjoyed reading everyone's comments, many I have chuckled at, some I have empathize with, some I rolled my eyes....

But overall and in the end I have enjoyed the comments.

Happy Chicken Keeping everyone!

 

[gtaus]

A laying hens here goes for at least $20.... More if it's a 'breed' and not your average barnyard mutt!

I have only bought chicks, at about $3.00 each. I have never paid for adult laying hens. For me, it just makes more sense to replace an older sick hen with a younger chick in good health. Last time I was in the vet office was many years ago, and minimum charge was about $80.00. That would buy a lot of days old chicks. If someone keeps chickens as pets, and wants to spend the money on a vet visit for a sick hen, that's OK with me.

My third year hens have more or less stopped laying eggs, so it now costs me more to feed them then I can ever expect to get back in "free" eggs. I have really enjoyed my backyard flock, but they will have to be replaced in the spring if I want more eggs in the future.

 

[PoultryPedia]

I have given a lot of injections over the years, including of Penicillin, which requires some more complicated steps. There are many things you can do to make giving injections a simpler process.
I have put together detailed instructions on giving subcutaneous and intramuscular injections to make it easier for others (and to remind myself of useful points, since I tend to forget a few things if it's been a while since I gave shot, lol!)
Instructions on what I've learned are at https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/how-to-give-chicken-medicine (Note: The info is moving to a new website within the next few months, so go to PoultryPedia.org instead after the link no longer works.)

 

[Ponypoor]

I have only bought chicks, at about $3.00 each. I have never paid for adult laying hens. For me, it just makes more sense to replace an older sick hen with a younger chick in good health. Last time I was in the vet office was many years ago, and minimum charge was about $80.00. That would buy a lot of days old chicks. If someone keeps chickens as pets, and wants to spend the money on a vet visit for a sick hen, that's OK with me.

My third year hens have more or less stopped laying eggs, so it now costs me more to feed them then I can ever expect to get back in "free" eggs. I have really enjoyed my backyard flock, but they will have to be replaced in the spring if I want more eggs in the future.

For me waiting for 5 to 6 months for hen to start laying is more time and money... If we want layers we get pullets already laying, young chicks are a pain in the patootie!

 

[jus10inla]

There is zero nursing after vaccinating your chicks. Not sure what gives you the impression that vaccinating a chick means weeks of nursing afterwards? You've likely been misled there.

Never said there was. The original question included vaccines AND medications. If a chicken has to have any more care than segregation and requires medicine, sorry not sorry but culling is a better option than just letting it deteriorate .. im
A hunter and kill animals regularly.. but i do have respect. I dont believe in lettting one suffer.

A laying hens here goes for at least $20.... More if it's a 'breed' and not your average barnyard mutt!

different parts of the world they go for different prices. Not even half that here. Chicks are less than 3$. Most are 2$ & under

 

[Ponypoor]

Never said there was. The original question included vaccines AND medications. If a chicken has to have any more care than segregation and requires medicine, sorry not sorry but culling is a better option than just letting it deteriorate .. im
A hunter and kill animals regularly.. but i do have respect. I dont believe in lettting one suffer.

different parts of the world they go for different prices. Not even half that here. Chicks are less than 3$. Most are 2$ & under

You said chicks - I said laying hen. If I were getting chickens for eggs I wouldn't waste months waiting for a $2 chick grow up, I would pay the $20 for pullet already laying.

 

[jus10inla]

For me waiting for 5 to 6 months for hen to start laying is more time and money... If we want layers we get pullets already laying, young chicks are a pain in the patootie!

Its actually more fun and no pain in the asss at all. Watching them grow and interact amd learn pecking order. You been far misled.

look im gona bow out on this thread . Too mmuch left winged thinking… a chicken is not some anima that needs you to take care of it 24/7, just provide it food, water, shelter. They’ve survived just fine for how many years now without our help. Your average backyard chicken keeper is not worried about production.. so get 10 birds, be happy with 5-7 eggs a day, have some off days, and act your life just the same as if they werent there. Let them free range as much as possible. Cull after 2-3 years, replenish stock every year after dispatching the ones chosen to go, its not rocket science, just chicken math! Add, subtract, multiply!!

 

[jus10inla]

You said chicks - I said laying hen. If I were getting chickens for eggs I wouldn't waste months waiting for a $2 chick grow up, I would pay the $20 for pullet already laying.

Misunderstood your post and thought it was aftrr my next post. My Apologies

 

[CHlCKEN]

The second option (you check the circle) is pretty much no you wouldn't give an injection. You are getting someone else to do it for you.

There is also an option for 'other'.

But I realize there are people who wouldn’t give them at all

 

[jus10inla]

But I realize there are people who wouldn’t give them at all

Exactly. Its not a vaccine vs anti vaccine debate. Some people like myself just choose not to give them to chickens