Vaccinations

[max13077]

Just a question before I order my meat birds. Should I have them vaccinated for Coccidiosis and Marek's? This is my first time with these birds so I wanted some advice.

 

[silkiechicken]

I never had and unless they are big concerns in your area, there really is no need. Cocci is everywhere, but if you can't get non medicated feed, there is no point in the vaccine since it will be nullified. I say get them without shots and they will start out less stressed.

 

[chickabator]

I received mine 3 weeks ago and did not know that the hatchery had vaccinated them and fed them medicated starter and it killed the vaccination out and gave my birds cocci. now I have lost 17 out of 32. so even if you tell them no vaccines they still might the hatchery we bought from did and did not tell us that they had vacinated them. so be careful

 

[Daycare Mom]

Thanks for the info, I think I will call the hatchery I order from and double check. I don't want to lose my birds to medicated feed!

 

[silkiechicken]

Medicated feed is just a thamine blocker and there are concerns that the vaccine doesn't really work.

I wouldn't worry too much, but do expose your chicks to the soil regardless of med feed or vaccination. For the feed med to work, the birds need to be exposed to the cocci, which is a protozoa, not a bacteria so they can build up a natural immunity. I don't know much about the vaccine though.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

I had my second group of 25 Cornish X's vaccinated against coccidia by MM hatchery (doesn't cost much at all)and they are now about 6 weeks of age and are doing great! Never lost one chick!

I did this because I had a few of my layer chicks die from that just before my chicks came and I wanted to be safe. I do not use medicated starter....

 

[greyfields]

The Marek's is cheap insurance.

The cocci isn't a vaccine in the sense it prevent cocci. You can vaccinate and still get it.

Personally, I have raised many broilers without any vaccinations and have not had disesae outbreaks. They are around a very very short time to justify the extra expense.