Vaccinating chicks

[Bulldog164]

Hi everyone, I have my first batch of eggs currently in my incubator. They will be fed on organic feed (starter crumbs, grower and then layers) do I need to give them anything special, or just Flubenvet in spring when I do everyone else?

 

[chickencoop789]

I vaccinated my chicks for Mareks disease when they were a day old. I never vaccinated them for anything else and I never lost a single one.

 

[Farmer Viola]

I vaccinated my chicks for Merricks disease when they were a day old. I never vaccinated them for anything else and I never lost a single one.

Same here, Marek's is the one thing I make sure to vaccinate for.

How-to
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/5-3/how_to_vaccinate_poultry_chicks_for_mareks_disease/

Vaccine
http://www.strombergschickens.com/product/Mareks-Vaccine-1000-Doses/New-Products
you have to order syringes separately btw

 

[grullablue]

Vaccinating seems to be a touchy subject. I always vaccinate for mareks, but have received some backlash from other fellow chicken people for doing so. I figure better to be safe than sorry! I've been looking up lately, if a hen can still be raised organically having been vaccinated. Seems the answer is yes. My place/eggs etc are not certified organic, although I like to say they are raised organically, no chemicals, no medicated feed, etc.

If you look up Mareks, it's a horrible death by the sounds of it, and can practically travel in the wind. I also read that wild birds can expose your flock? That may not be true, but I did read that somewhere.

 

[Farmer Viola]

it is a very personal decision. I know that my farm housed poultry many years, so for me it seems like a good insurance policy for 25 bucks.

Yes your chicks can still be considered Organic if vaccinated. I believe they have to be on organic feed (and organic veggies) from 2 weeks old onward. For a commercial producer the land has to also be certified organic, but for you and me just feeding organic is enough to market your eggs as such.

 

[Bulldog164]

That's brilliant. I looked into organic and commercially it's a mine field. I will vaccinate against mareks just to be on the safe side