Vaccinate or not???

[Jeannieb4]

BYC Friends,
I am a new chicken owner and I have 3 hens that I bought from an rganic" farm as pullets that are now laying. I have just added two RIR 6 week old chicks. None are vaccinated. We are just getting through our first respiratory illness. I want my girls to be healthy. Should I vaccinate them and if so against what and how long should I wait because they have been ill? I found a source for meds, Mc Murray Hatchery. I just need to know if I should go a head, what to get and a schedule.
Any advise would be helpful.

Thanks,
Jeannie

 

[Folly's place]

Vaccinations are desighed to prevent illness, not treat it. It's too late to protect them from their current problem, and the best thing you can do is NOT to bring birds in from any other source! I only get day- old chicks from carefully researched places, myself. If you want show quality purebreds, find a good breeder. Most people starting with chickens get hatchery day-olds, They can come from a certified hatchery and be vaccinated for Mareks disease. You the keep the babies isolated from your flock for the three weeks or so that it takes the vaccine to be effective. Mary

 

[Jeannieb4]

Thank you Mary, the information you gave me is very helpful. I am a medical professional... for humans, so I know how things work for people, but am clueless with my girls. I now have these five chickens whom I love very much... What should I do NOW to make them as healthy in the future as possible. I obviously didn't purchase them the way an experienced chicken owner would, but as I learn I will become better at all of this. I just want healthy girls.
Thank you for getting right back with me. All of you at BYC are so wonderful!

Jeannie