Typical vaccine post. Anyone in south Florida care to help?!

[JRabbit90]

I feel dumb asking but I'm trying to figure out what to vaccinate my 16 RIR pullets. They're currently 4 weeks old and eating purina medicated chick starter and I'm not planning on getting anymore additions. I have them outside since the weather has been in the 80s and their feathers are almost out. We live in an agricultural area and I haven't seen chickens in my neighborhood, but I occasionally hear a roo. I know for sure the fowl pox is one of the things I want to treat them for (my dad is pretty serious about this disease). Does anyone in the south Florida area have any other issues with certain diseases in the area? I'm just trying to research before they're 6 weeks old. And even if you're not in the area and you have any suggestions go ahead and give me some advice. My brother and I have gone through hell making their chicken mansion and securing their entire run with hardware mesh. We're seriously in love with these girls and I'd never forgive myself if I could've prevented their death with a simple vaccine.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Many available vaccines need to be administered as day olds. I never vaccinate nor give medicated feed and wouldn't worry about it.

Keep them well ventilated, watered, fed and healthy chickens will thrive.

 

[Folly's place]

Marek's vaccine has to be given to day-old chicks, and it's recommended, but it's too late for yours to get it. Other diseases are generally not vaccinated in backyard flocks because they are at low risk. Fowl pox in your immediate neighborhood would be a reason to vaccinate for that, but isn't usually done otherwise. Show birds and commercial flocks get many vaccines for other diseases, but not small home flocks. Mary

 

[Pork Pie]

To offer a slightly different approach - i have vaccinated my last hatch against Newcastle Disease, infectious bronchitis (IB) and gumbro. Don't worry about the diseases mentioned as i live in Kenya so some may not be irrelevant to you.

The bronchitis vaccine was important to me as my flock has chronic respiratory issue (nothing major, just like us having a cold) but i wanted to be able to give some of the chicks to friends, and could only do so with a clear conscience, i.e. that they were vaccinated against IB.

As mentioned above however, many vaccine schedules have been missed by four weeks of age.

If you have no intention of selling or giving away chickens in the future, then i agree, that its too late for most vaccines and they are likely to be fine anyway.

CT