South Carolina

[EggieRowe]

I had mine vaccinated and I wouldn't do it again. With zero exposure to other birds, all my chicks came down with coccidia at week 5 and it killed 7 out of 28 over the course of a week or so. The only vector for infection was the vaccine IMHO. The state poultry health vet I talked to said vaccinating home flocks isn't necessary and might be contributing to the rise of certain diseases.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Does anybody vaccinate their chicks? And if you do, do you vaccinate them yourself or go to a vet?

We do not vaccinate here but I do give shots of Tylan if a bird looks like it might need it. We do have fowl poxes in the flock from time to time in the fall but so far(knock on wood) it is only in the roosters. Must be the strain we have around here. Anymore all bird here are brought in in eggs and nothing but eggs are shipped out. Not saying we will never vaccinate for something....

 

[KPenley]

I had mine vaccinated and I wouldn't do it again. With zero exposure to other birds, all my chicks came down with coccidia at week 5 and it killed 7 out of 28 over the course of a week or so. The only vector for infection was the vaccine IMHO. The state poultry health vet I talked to said vaccinating home flocks isn't necessary and might be contributing to the rise of certain diseases.

Oh my goodness! I'm concerned because there are so many wild birds and mosquitoes in our area, but wow...to think you're protecting them and then lose them? That would be so hard.

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Oh my goodness! I'm concerned because there are so many wild birds and mosquitoes in our area, but wow...to think you're protecting them and then lose them? That would be so hard.

Not saying it will not happen but wet pox is usually a very low percentage if at all when birds get it. That said tomorrow I could wake up to it but I do not think I will vaccinate for fowl pox. Plus once they have it they do not get it again. Last year I had fowl pox in my Polish Roosters and it was ugly, big soars all over their faces. No hens got it and no other breed of chickens that I could see(one Silkie looked like he might have had a mild case without me noticing). This season one of my heritage RIR roosters had a very mild case of tiny spots and one other had a few tiny scabby spots that I think were a case that I missed. So far that has been it and fingers crossed it is--no hens have shown any signs and hopefully that continues. We have a lot of wild turkeys around here which probably contributes to it hopefully these guys make it through well and I will not see it next year. It last about a week on a bird. I am hoping for the weather to stay cool so we can slow down some of these mosquitoes!

 

[KPenley]

What about Mareks? I'm hopefully hatching some Barnevelders in the Spring and they are susceptible to it.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I do not vaccinate. I prefer my birds to build their own immunity.
IMHO, that is what is wrong with the world today, introducing something into the body without proper build up of immunity. Having taken many courses in animal husbandry and animal science in the past 30+ years I see where a lot of the down fall came from. Vaccinating may help some but migratory birds will always bring new strains of viruses into the area.

Yes, I lose some birds but if they weren't strong to start with I prefer not to use them in my breeding programs.

 

[KPenley]

I do not vaccinate. I prefer my birds to build their own immunity.
IMHO, that is what is wrong with the world today, introducing something into the body without proper build up of immunity. Having taken many courses in animal husbandry and animal science in the past 30+ years I see where a lot of the down fall came from. Vaccinating may help some but migratory birds will always bring new strains of viruses into the area.

Yes, I lose some birds but if they weren't strong to start with I prefer not to use them in my breeding programs.

That makes all the sense in the world. So, if your birds get sick...do you treat them? And if so, how? ie Fowl Pox, or AI

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Depends on what they are sick with.
Many years ago there was a fowl pox out break here and I did treat. A year later I got some birds from someone that found out they had Mareks at their farm and I did isolate and treat. Then I got some chicks from X-treme Poultry and they all had Newcastle so I destroyed them. BTW, X-treme Poultry was the worst people I have ever had the displeasure to deal with. I am amazed they even stay in business.

 

[KPenley]

So Newcastle can't be treated? Thank you all for the information!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I, personally, did not want to try to treat Newcastle. I do a lot of holistic medicine and there are some things worth trying and some that are not. I prefer prevention over treatment but who doesn't? And I am not against using Tylan, Gallimycin, Sulmet or the like for some problems but I really try not to throw it at my flocks. Those are last resort meds for me.