Question on vaccination timeline for baby chicks

[balletchickenmom]

Hello! I plan on Vaccinating my new chicks when they hatch (we have everything already set up), however, I know it needs to be done within 24 hours of birth. Our hen is hatching the eggs, and I know that we shouldn't move her and or disturb her during the process so the chicks hatch successfully... since all chicks hatch at different rates, when do you suggest I try to accomplish this?

Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

It is crucial to get them within their first 24 hours, and this is said not even knowing what you're vaccinating them for, but assuming Marek's. I would wait 24 hours after the first chick hatches, then take all of them at that point and vaccinate. If you've got a straggler(s) that's pipping, I think I'd wait for it.

You've only got an hour before the vaccination starts degrading. If you have stragglers, after you're all done, I'd do them with a fresh syringe at that point.

 

[balletchickenmom]

It is crucial to get them within their first 24 hours, and this is said not even knowing what you're vaccinating them for, but assuming Marek's. I would wait 24 hours after the first chick hatches, then take all of them at that point and vaccinate. If you've got a straggler(s) that's pipping, I think I'd wait for it.

You've only got an hour before the vaccination starts degrading. If you have stragglers, after you're all done, I'd do them with a fresh syringe at that point.

Yes to Mareks! Sorry, thought I had written that in the post--whoops haha. So if I have a straggler, vaccinate everyone together 24 hours after the straggler has hatched?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yes to Mareks! Sorry, thought I had written that in the post--whoops haha. So if I have a straggler, vaccinate everyone together 24 hours after the straggler has hatched?

If your flock has mareks, then there's not really a point in vaccinating broody hatched chicks. They've already been exposed during hatching and they need 2 weeks of quarantine after vaccination from any mareks exposure

 

[Susan Skylark]

This looks like a bit of cart before the horse here, I’ll address live vaccines in general not specifically mareks. It is a good idea to use the vaccine within a max of six hours after mixing, don’t expose it to direct sunlight, freezing temps, or heat or you’ll kill the vaccine and it won’t do any good. Your critters can be exposed to the disease within a few weeks of vaccination and it won’t hurt their immune response but the issue is that depending on the vaccine, it may take that long to have an immune response thus they are susceptible to the disease. Chicks hatched from local eggs will have some immunity from the hen to local strains of whatever but this wears off in the first few weeks. The vaccine is labeled for 24 hour chicks but it will probably work on slightly older birds as well (but has not been tested for fda approval so you can’t say that on the label). Just trying to clarify, you have the right ideas but the reason for them is a little foggy.

 

[Kiki]

Hello! I plan on Vaccinating my new chicks when they hatch (we have everything already set up), however, I know it needs to be done within 24 hours of birth. Our hen is hatching the eggs, and I know that we shouldn't move her and or disturb her during the process so the chicks hatch successfully... since all chicks hatch at different rates, when do you suggest I try to accomplish this?

Thanks!

Which vaccine are you wanting to give?

 

[Kiki]

If your flock has mareks, then there's not really a point in vaccinating broody hatched chicks. They've already been exposed during hatching and they need 2 weeks of quarantine after vaccination from any mareks exposure

This.