The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I'm also wondering if pumping them full of vaccinations might do more harm than good in the long run. Lots of input appreciated.

Kathy
Wet behind the ears

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Sounds like you don't feed medicated feed ??? Or is the Corrid in the water in addition to medicated feed??

Stan, sorry i did leave that a bit ambiguous. I DO use medicated chick starter (truthfully because that is the only way I can get it)....in the brooder it seems to be "ok". However, in the presence of coccidia in/on the ground I find that it lacks the efficacy to help the chicks fight it off. I think you and I are more prone to it here in the humid, warm conditions of the SE....and that is also another reason I try diligently to hatch all my birds in Jan/Feb if possible as cocci seems to be less prevalent in cooler conditions

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Ok, I cancelled the order. I may try to find just Mareks locally. When thinking this through unemotionally I realized thar a massive vaccination program is just going to hide the weak birds and stock quality will go down.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Ok, I cancelled the order. I may try to find just Mareks locally. When thinking this through unemotionally I realized thar a massive vaccination program is just going to hide the weak birds and stock quality will go down.

I think Wynette is a good source to help us with Mareks....pretty sure she has dealt with it in the past. Mareks is carried by the wild bird population so I find it better to breed for resistance than to vaccinate
I guess if I had a very very rare variety that could never be replaced, I might vaccinate for a yr in order to establish a large enough flock....but other than that, no way

I've heard many an old timer to the hobby say the only things in their poultry medicine kits are "louse powder and a sharp ax"

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: LOL, I'm glad I came to my senses!

 

[speckledhen]

As for medicated feed, I finally got the co-op to start ordering non-medicated chick starter for me because, frankly, the meds in feed NEVER did any good. I just keep Corid on hand for chicks that hit the ground. I've already had to treat a group of LF chicks being raised in the bantam coop by the little broodies in there, probably because they never get off that same pen dirt. If they were free ranged like most other of my LF broody-raised chicks, they'd probably not be dealing with cocci right now. It's very rare in that situation, but I have to treat the penned chicks for it occasionally.


Quote: That will give you a strong flock, IMO. Never had anything like Mareks or anything contagious here at all, only the reproductive issues of the genetically weak hatchery stock and in a few rare incidents, pneumonia and fungal infections, neither of which are contagious and both situational.

 

[Fred's Hens]

As a breeder of a strain that we're sharing with other folk, I feel a strong responsibility to not "help chicks out of shells" as hatching vigor is of primary importance. The only real tools I use are indeed Corid, dusting powder and a sharp hatchet.

Nobody wants my birds if I breed a line of whimps. I am not ever going to keep a line that needs it's fuzz trimmed in order to breed. Ain't never gonna happen. Others can do all this stuff, that's their business.

We've got some work to do on some of these lines, I'll be honest with you. But raising the old line birds in a bubble isn't the answer. As long as wild birds exist and fly freely around the globe, you're better off breeding the toughest of the tough, the fittest of the fit. This is as important as selecting for points on a comb or tail angle.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

As a breeder of a strain that we're sharing with other folk, I feel a strong responsibility to not "help chicks out of shells" as hatching vigor is of primary importance. The only real tools I use are indeed Corid, dusting powder and a sharp hatchet.

Nobody wants my birds if I breed a line of whimps. I am not ever going to keep a line that needs it's fuzz trimmed in order to breed. Ain't never gonna happen. Others can do all this stuff, that's their business.

We've got some work to do on some of these lines, I'll be honest with you. But raising the old line birds in a bubble isn't the answer. As long as wild birds exist and fly freely around the globe, you're better off breeding the toughest of the tough, the fittest of the fit. This is as important as selecting for points on a comb or tail angle.

Thank you Fred, I agree and have never done an assisted hatch and in my 10 yrs of chickens have only bought Corid and Sevin dust once for mites. I truly believe in this philosophy. I just got a little carried away yesterday reading posts on here about all the vaccination programs. Better 2-3 strong vigorous birds than a flock of weaklings.

 

[normanack]

Thank you Fred, I agree and have never done an assisted hatch and in my 10 yrs of chickens have only bought Corid and Sevin dust once for mites.  I truly believe in this philosophy.  I just got a little carried away yesterday reading posts on here about all the vaccination programs.  Better 2-3 strong vigorous birds than a flock of weaklings.

I helped two chicks out of their shells last year (my first hatch) then had to put both down a few days later because they couldn't walk.

I faced the same dilemma this year when two chicks did eventually make it out but couldn't stand up the following day. Nurse them along, or put them down? Wise advice from an expert helped me make the right decision. Thanks, Fred. I needed that little push.

(edited for clarity)

 

[Wynette]

I'm a firm believer for the following chicken animal husbandry:

Good Nutrition and Clean Drinking Water
Sanitary Conditions overall in coop and environs
No overcrowding
Low stress

Ditto the above! Glad you decided against all the vaccinations. I vaccinated for Mareks years ago, and then did a ton of research; for me, the decision to stop vaccinating and working toward natural resistance to it in my flocks was one of the best things I ever did, but everyone needs to do what they're comfortable with. I can say that I see rare instances of Mareks on my farm now, but nothing near what I saw AFTER VACCINATING. And, 2 years ago, I actually saw a K go down with Mareks...when I see them, I immediately dispatch them. Well, I was super busy the day I saw him, and so decided to dispatch him the next day. Went out to the barn that next morning, and he was up & walking...I immediately tagged him. 2 days later, you would not have known this bird was ever sick. OF COURSE he was never used for breeding. The ones that never show symptoms are the ones that get to stay (of course, if they have the type I need in my breeder flocks). Mareks is carried in the dander, and so there's really no way to get around your birds being exposed. That's why the instructions that come with the vaccination for it state that it MUST be given when teh chicks are day olds...that's because the liklihood of them having been exposed at one day of life is far, far less than 2 days and on.

I guess that really depends on what is rampant in your area of the country. I have never vaccinated my birds for anything and don't plan to start, not even Mareks.

Sounds like you don't feed medicated feed ??? Or is the Corrid in the water in addition to medicated feed??

I don't feed medicated feed, either. I did see a few minor cocci cases this year, but I find that so long as their environment is clean AND DRY, it's typically not an issue. I do not use Corid as a "preventative," either, as some folks do; but, again, you must do what you're comfortable with.

I'm also wondering if pumping them full of vaccinations might do more harm than good in the long run. Lots of input appreciated.

Kathy
Wet behind the ears

If you ask 10 folks you'll likely get at least 4 different opinions on this...I've never vaccinated, except for the Mareks stint I did many years ago. I'm of the belief (how does that saying go?) the best medicine you can have is a sharp axe...however that goes.