Should I vaccinate my chicks?

[horsejody]

The tablets are pretty soft. You won't need a cutter. They fall apart easily. I don't know how long the tabs keep in the freezer. If the mixing solution becomes cloudy it is contaminated. You may want to consider ordering an extra bottle of the solution if you are keeping it for a while.

 

[twigg]

Quote:
The judgement is the likelihood of disease hopping from one flock to another.

Wild birds can act as vectors, but 1000 feet I wouldn't worry. Others might

 

[CritterHill]

As it so happens, I just called the New Bolton center today to get a local poultry specialist recommendation on what vaccines to give.

They told me that for a small backyard flock, they only recommend Marek's vaccine and no others. But that they STRONGLY recommend vaccinating for Marek's.

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/nbc/

 

[Penske]

When I first put my order in I was getting vacs for Marek's...but then I read that unvac. chickens can get Marek's from vac. ones. So, to be safe, I changed my order b/c Marek's vac. is not available for the little bantys that I am getting with my order. So...I'll do my best to keep the wild birds away from the chickens!
So much to think about!!!

Thanks for all the super info!!

Lisa

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Unvaccinated chickens do not get mareks from vaccinated chickens. The virus in the vaccine is not the same as the virus that causes the disease. Even if you keep wild birds away, it is in the environment.

 

[wegotchickens]

You can't vaccinate banties? At all?
Couldn't the dosage be adjusted for size?

Otherwise, how could people safely show their banties?

 

[Penske]

I ordered my chicks from MPC and the vaccine was not available for the bantys, so I dodn't do any of them because of a post I read (I think) somewhere here-but maybe not. Oh well. I guess I should have done it. Live and learn.

Lisa