Special Services

[yelim]

SPECIAL SERVICES (PER CHICK): In small flocks IDEAL does not recommend having any of these services done to your poultry. Marek's Disease Vaccination (chicks only) 10¢ Debeak 6¢ Dub (clipping comb) 6¢ Dewing 12¢

This is from Ideal Poultry web sight. I emailed them to ask why they do not recommend these services. No answer as yet. Can anyone tell me why not get them vaccinated at least?

 

[AndreaS]

I don't know why they wouldn't recommend the mareks vaccination
In our area it can be a problem, so I get my chicks vaccinated even though I only have a few. Mareks can wipe out an entire flock if you have it in your area. The beak clipping and dubbing.....I may be wrong here, so someone else with more experience will hopefully chime in....seems like those services would be for hens that are going to live in crowded conditions where pecking would become an issue. If you are only getting a few and are going to give them a humane amount of space and let them range, that shouldn't be an issue.

Again, I'm not an expert....but I would go for the mareks vaccine and leave out the rest. You could call your local AG extension agent and find out how prevelent mareks is in your area if you would prefer not to vaccinate.
Good luck!