Vaccinating for Respiratory?

[Mosey2003]

So, I'm getting some outside eggs in to hatch soon. Something swept through my flock in the last cold spell we had (-30F, it was miserable) and I can't quite tell for sure if it was Infectious Bronchitis or Mycoplasma. I'm leaning IB, but I'm just not 100%. I have an email in to our state lab about having a couple hens tested, but I'm afraid it might be too late to be conclusive. Depending on what they say, I might just scrap that idea and vaccinate for both. Pretty positive it wasn't Coryza at the least.

Anyhow, anything I need to know about vaccinating for IB and MG? I've read the instructions, I'm fine with all that. It's gonna cost me about $120 to do both, but it will be worth it if it really is effective against both those diseases. I never want to go through this again. Pretty sure it was the **** sparrows that infiltrated my barn this winter

I know to take precautions between the flock and the chicks.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think that if you got testing, they could tell if they were positive for MG, but not IB. People get their chickens tested for NPIP certification all the time, and they can test for that. IB would only make your chickens carriers for up to a year after the birds recover, whereas MG makes them carriers for life. If you wait a year to get new birds or hatch eggs, then you wouldn’t have to bother with vaccines. If you chickens have MG, then they will always be carriers. I am not sure how often you need to vaccinate, or if it is for life. I also do not know how effective it is.

 

[Mosey2003]

Sad thing is, the IB is cheaper, lol! I'm not sure I can keep them apart for a whole year, I'll want to breed in December.

 

[Mosey2003]

Just heard back, no IB testing. Boo

 

[Eggcessive]

It seems like a no brainer to not breed for a year if they had IB. Then you would not have to vaccinate ever. Getting some testing for MG would be worth the money. Call your state vet and your state NPIP to find out how.

 

[Mosey2003]

These birds got it somehow without any being added. The more I think about it, the more vaccination sounds like a good idea, honestly.

I contacted the lab, I need to drive 2 hours with a hen to give them to kill. By the time all is said and done, it's probably the same cost.

 

[Eggcessive]

The NPIP testers draw blood on them for testing. The chickens are not harmed. But it sounds like you may have better luck with vaccinating. Hopefully others will chime in who vaccinate.

 

[Mosey2003]

NPIP isn't an option right now, they're out of Pullorum antigen and aren't making rounds from what I see. Unless I'm missing something, I see no harm in vaccinating. That's why I asked.