Vaccinate Chicks- What is best regimen?

[CraziChknLady]

Hey,

Looking to start vaccinating my chicks who are 8 weeks old. I currently have 4 Mille Fleur adults and 1 Cochin Adult mama hen and 5 chicks. Adults are all bantys. No clue what the chicks are : Banty or standard.

Not sure which vaccine should be started and how long do you wait between each one?

From what I've read, some are combo ones like Avian Encephalomyelitis and Fowlpox.

I know most tractor supply stores probably have them. Any recommendations anywhere else? Online?

Is it best to get combo ones or individual ones? I know it also might depend on the availability as well.
Any help is appreciated. This is an area I've never dealt with before.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't vaccinate mine, I've never seen the need. If I observed certain diseases in my flock my opinion would probably change. Some thoughts on a few diseases and vaccinations.

Marek's vaccination is best given at hatch, then the chick needs to be isolated from any possible infection source for a few weeks. Give the vaccine time to get protection established. The Marek's vaccine does not prevent the chick from getting Marek's and being a carrier. It stops the chick from showing the symptoms of Marek's if it gets infected. The vaccine stops Marek's from doing any damage to that specific chicken.

The Coccidiosis vaccine is also best given to a chick at hatch. The chick again needs to be isolated from the rest of the flock for about three weeks to give the vaccine time to set up. Again, this does not prevent the chick from getting and spreading the bugs that cause Coccidiosis but does prevent the damage to that specific chicken. If the chick is vaccinated you need to avoid medicated feed. Medicated feed can prevent the vaccine from being effective.

Those are the only two I've studied that much. If you want you can do your own research on any other diseases.

My general philosophy is to not treat or vaccinate unless I have a reason. I don't vaccinate for anything as I have not seen a reason to vaccinate. Others treat and vaccinate whether they see anything going on in their flock or not. Some vaccinate because they have seen a reason in their flock. It is your choice.

 

[CraziChknLady]

Thank you for your information. That helps. I personally have dealt with Coccidiosis and Mycoplasma with my previous flocks. I've never used vaccines before. Just started over with some new birds. Makes it interesting as if most chickens are carriers anyway, then what's the point? Just an overall observation. I'm also exploring the idea of breed resistance ( probably not the right term) and just culling any that show symptoms, then breeding from the better stock or those that don't show any symptoms.

 

[FrostRanger]

I vaccinate for fowl pox but the disease is an issue in my area and the strain here is nastier than usual. Other than that I just have the hatchery vaccinate for Marek's. I would see what diseases if any are a problem in your area and go from there. Our local tractor supply doesn't actually carry chicken vaccines so I have to order from valley vet's website

 

[2ndTink]

If you talk to your state vet, or the lab that does necropsies for your state, they should be able to tell you what diseases are the most prevalent in your area, that would give you a good starting point to know what vaccinations you may want to consider.

Some vaccines have to be given at hatch, others at different ages, and many have to be repeated.

 

[CraziChknLady]

If you talk to your state vet, or the lab that does necropsies for your state, they should be able to tell you what diseases are the most prevalent in your area, that would give you a good starting point to know what vaccinations you may want to consider.

Some vaccines have to be given at hatch, others at different ages, and many have to be repeated.

Thanks so much! I was about to ask how I would even find out which are a problem in my area but you answered it. I already know coccidiosis and Mycoplasma since I've already experienced that with a previous flock last year.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When I moved to Arkansas I called the county extension office and chatted with them. They put me in touch with a poultry science professor at U of Arkansas who specialized in poultry disease and was on the fast response team if a disease was discovered. I had a nice discussion with him about diseases. For instance they had had two reported cases of Marek's in that county in the previous three years. Neither were in my part of the county. So I used the money I was going to spend to vaccinate them to buy 5 more chicks.

 

[Folly's place]

I have chicks I buy from hatcheries vaccinated against Marek's disease, and then isolate them for almost three weeks. Chicks hatched here or from farm stores go right out to the separate chick area at the coop instead.
So far no Marek's disease in my flock, and the unvaccinated birds would be showing issues if we had it here.
Coccidiosis 'vaccine' is a low dose of the parasite, and feeding amprolium treated feed cancels out that product. So, our chicks get medicated chick starter, because a few years ago, in very wet weather, we had sick chicks with this parasite.
Because we don't take our birds to shows, and because there hasn't been a fowl pox outbreak nearby, we don't vaccinate otherwise.
If a AI vaccine becomes available for the flock, we will definitely use it!
Mary