Vaccinated chicken with unvaccinated chickens

[SomeChookLover]

Hi everyone, I’m not sure that this is the right forum, but I need some advice so here I go!
Today, through some strange and unforeseen circumstances, I’ve gotten an ex-battery hen.
While I’m always delighted by a new member of the flock, the issue comes from the fact she is almost certainly vaccinated, whereas my chickens are not. Google has provided very inconsistent answers, so I’m here to ask how likely it is that she will pass on viruses as a passive carrier, or any other issues I may not have thought of. Any advice or information is welcome and appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Loving my girls]

Here in France I don’t buy vaccinated hens, never have and never seen them. As far as I know anyway.
I live in the country and my girlz don’t mix with other hens although there is the wild life around us.
They seem fine and I’ve never understood the vaccination thing in the States.
Unless there are more problems with bugs ?

 

[FrostRanger]

Hi everyone, I’m not sure that this is the right forum, but I need some advice so here I go!
Today, through some strange and unforeseen circumstances, I’ve gotten an ex-battery hen.
While I’m always delighted by a new member of the flock, the issue comes from the fact she is almost certainly vaccinated, whereas my chickens are not. Google has provided very inconsistent answers, so I’m here to ask how likely it is that she will pass on viruses as a passive carrier, or any other issues I may not have thought of. Any advice or information is welcome and appreciated. Thanks.

Hmm, there's always a risk, but probably not that likely

Here in France I don’t buy vaccinated hens, never have and never seen them. As far as I know anyway.
I live in the country and my girlz don’t mix with other hens although there is the wild life around us.
They seem fine and I’ve never understood the vaccination thing in the States.
Unless there are more problems with bugs ?

Some areas have problems with certain illnesses, my area for example has a problem with fowl pox due to all the mosquitoes hence I opted to vaccinate for that. It also comes down to personal risk tolerance, people are divided on whether or not to vaccinate for mereks and there's no right or wrong answer, there are pros and cons to both. I opted to get my girls vaccinated for it but again, that's just my personal preference and level of risk tolerance especially when the hatchery will do it for cheap

 

[Loving my girls]

Hmm, there's always a risk, but probably not that likely

Some areas have problems with certain illnesses, my area for example has a problem with fowl pox due to all the mosquitoes hence I opted to vaccinate for that. It also comes down to personal risk tolerance, people are divided on whether or not to vaccinate for mereks and there's no right or wrong answer, there are pros and cons to both. I opted to get my girls vaccinated for it but again, that's just my personal preference and level of risk tolerance especially when the hatchery will do it for cheap

Interesting to hear your point of view, I hear about it often on the site and I’ve always been curious

 

[Ridgerunner]

the issue comes from the fact she is almost certainly vaccinated, whereas my chickens are not.

Is there any way to determine what specific vaccinations she had? That way you could get a rational answer instead of just speculation. The majority of things she might be vaccinated for are not going to be transmittable to your flock because of the vaccine but unless you know exactly what those vaccines were you are just guessing.

I assume she has already mixed with your flock. If not, you could quarantine her along with a current potentially sacrificial member of your flock for a month and see it either gets sick. It is possible your flock has flock immunity to certain parasites or diseases that they could give her.

As an recently available ex-battery hen she is probably at the end of her laying cycle. I'd expect her to stop laying and molt. Once she starts laying after the molt I'd expect her to lay like crazy. But it may be a while.

 

[SomeChookLover]

Is there any way to determine what specific vaccinations she had? That way you could get a rational answer instead of just speculation. The majority of things she might be vaccinated for are not going to be transmittable to your flock because of the vaccine but unless you know exactly what those vaccines were you are just guessing.

I assume she has already mixed with your flock. If not, you could quarantine her along with a current potentially sacrificial member of your flock for a month and see it either gets sick. It is possible your flock has flock immunity to certain parasites or diseases that they could give her.

As an recently available ex-battery hen she is probably at the end of her laying cycle. I'd expect her to stop laying and molt. Once she starts laying after the molt I'd expect her to lay like crazy. But it may be a while.

Thanks for you’re response. I don’t think there’s really a way to know what she’s been vaccinated for. I might see if I can find some information on what vaccines are given in my area.
She is quarantined, and there is a rooster I’m not the most fond of, though I don’t want him hurting her so I might just have them next to each other.
As for egg laying and molting, we’ll I’m not sure she’s at the end of her cycle as she was not garnered through typical means.
It sounds really stupid and crazy, but we had ordered some chicken poop to fertilise our paddocks, and she some how ended up in the truck. Thanks for the advice!

Here in France I don’t buy vaccinated hens, never have and never seen them. As far as I know anyway.
I live in the country and my girlz don’t mix with other hens although there is the wild life around us.
They seem fine and I’ve never understood the vaccination thing in the States.
Unless there are more problems with bugs ?

Thanks for your response. I am actually in Australia, and most backyard chickens aren’t vaccinated, but broiler chickens, battery hens and pretty much all commercial chickens are vaccinated.

 

[FrostRanger]

Thanks for you’re response. I don’t think there’s really a way to know what she’s been vaccinated for. I might see if I can find some information on what vaccines are given in my area.
She is quarantined, and there is a rooster I’m not the most fond of, though I don’t want him hurting her so I might just have them next to each other.
As for egg laying and molting, we’ll I’m not sure she’s at the end of her cycle as she was not garnered through typical means.
It sounds really stupid and crazy, but we had ordered some chicken poop to fertilise our paddocks, and she some how ended up in the truck. Thanks for the advice!

Thanks for your response. I am actually in Australia, and most backyard chickens aren’t vaccinated, but broiler chickens, battery hens and pretty much all commercial chickens are vaccinated.

Wow, she's one lucky girl! I think placing her next to the rooster you don't like is a good idea. Hopefully all will go well and she'll enjoy her new life!

 

[aart]

but broiler chickens, battery hens and pretty much all commercial chickens are vaccinated.

Any idea at all what they might be vaccinated against?

I am actually in Australia

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Ridgerunner]

It sounds really stupid and crazy, but we had ordered some chicken poop to fertilise our paddocks, and she some how ended up in the truck.

You can't make this stuff up but that's not all that strange compared to some of the stuff that happens. Isn't life a joy ride.

 

[MrsWinterWheat]

So majority of vaccinations don’t cause illness in those unvaccinated, I know with Marek’s the statement of “leaky vaccine” is thrown around. But this applies to coverage from Marek’s being the “leaky” not that non vaccinated birds will get Marek’s from birds that have the vaccination. If that makes sense…
There was a study done out of the University of Edinburgh regarding this.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2020/leaky-vaccines-part-in-marek-s-disease-management