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That is up to you.
If you value your poultry, and/or have invested alot of money and love your birds, you should consider vaccinating them.
Everyone who vaccinates also helps prevent the spread of these horrible diseases.
Some, like Marek's, are so contagious and symptoms so varied that your birds can be infected from a single fluff or feather from an infected bird miles away.
Newcastle and alot of others are carried by wild birds...and mosquitos.
I am going to do Marek's, Newcastle and Fowl Pox...not all at once.
Some of these diseases can kill before you notice syptoms, others like Marek's can take a month of slow death while the birds are eaten alive inside by cancerous lesions.
I feel it is the responsibility of poultry owners to vaccinate, and educate others who have birds and have no idea what these diseases are.
The vaccines are cheap, the shipping can get spendy comparatively as the vaccines must be kept cold...and if you are squeemish the whole process of vaccinating the birds could be too much for alot of people...and be careful not to vaccinate yourself !
I almost did that when I was giving one of my dogs a shot in the neck scruff !!!
We all here on this thread witnessed the slow and horrible death of some of our friend's birds.
This was devastating to their flock, and to the owners of these birds who had gone to great lengths nursing the birds, with medications and hand feeding to no avail as there is no cure once the bird is infected, and as stated, these viruses are everywhere and can take days, to weeks before you notice any symptoms.
I noticed during the sunny day yesterday alot of my babies were falling asleep while in the sun, and how it looks to the observer that these birds may be sunning, then again, they could have the beginnings of disease.
Marek's is scarey !
I am having to give 2 insulin shots a day to dog. My birds are not necessarily lots of dollars, they are pets with the perk of giving me eggs. When I take on a pet, I take on the responsibility if it were a child. If vaccinations are what keeps them healthy, then I need to learn more. The last time I had birds 10+ years ago, I had never heard of vaccinating birds and I still am new. Is this intramuscular or subcutaneous? I have given cats and dogs shots (hate doing it). Can I get the vaccine from my vet for the chickens? Feed store?
I am not sure about your area, I myself had to order it online, mine says to give it in the back of the neck....
Off subject...... my mom just told me she is going to get me some buff laced polish for my birthday...... YAY!
