What have I done?

[MyGirlDitto]

I am new to ckickens... So new, that I will receive my first 10 chicks on Thursday. I bought these 10 from Tractor Supply. They are coming to me non-vaccinated. Their website mentions feeding medicated food. I read through a lot of the threads on here that say medicated feed is not necessary so long as you keep their area clean. That is easy enough. However, should these birds be vaccinated and if so am I supposed to do it myself if so, what am I looking for?

Next issue that I have created for myself, I also ordered 5 more chicks from a local feed store, which come vaccinated. They will be available about 2 weeks later than my first 10. Do I need to keep them separated?

Thank you for all of your advise.

 

[azygous]

Vaccinated chicks need to be kept isolated for two weeks until resistance is acquired.

For some reason, most feed stores such as TSC do not order their chicks vaccinated. You can do it yourself, but it's wasteful since you have to buy vaccine for a huge flock.

Having some chicks vaccinated while some are not is impractical and won't accomplish much. As for the medicated feed, it has low dose amprolium added to encourage resistance to coccidia found in your local soil. This also isn't really necessary. Chicks will acquire resistance naturally as they are exposed to low levels of the parasite. To accomplish this, many of us simply "innoculate" our new chicks by placing a clump of sod in their brooder during the first two weeks so they may eat the dirt and munch the grass and this encourages their immune systems to develop resistance during their "window" of immunity.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Do I need to keep them separated?

Are your second chicks being vaccinated for coccidiosis or Marek's?

No need to keep them separate.. just don't put any of them out on pasture until two weeks later.

Medicated feed is for coccidiosis.. which is not a problem as long as water is kept clean and shavings are kept DRY. Since it IS low dose, chicks may still need treatment if conditions become too poopy (keep water clean from poop) and wet.

Mareks vaccine can only be given at hatch or shortly after to be considered effective. Coccidia vaccine.. is irrelevant to small keepers with plenty of space.

Coccidiosis can be very deadly, and only one or two of the 9-11 known strains that effect chickens will present as blood in droppings. Chicks are born with coccidia already in their gut and they are in every poo.. but only a concern with over growth (excessive ingestion of sporulated eggs).. sporulated means had exposure time to air.. so it isn't even caused by the chicks sampling another's waste as I've seen them take a direct drink. Corid on hand to treat IF suspected need arises would be MY choice over low dose medicated feed. I've probably raised close to 1000 chicks and only need to treat when cramming brooders together due to failed heat lamp and being gone all day with them drinking from standard waterer. Nipple waterers help prevent that. AND heat plates don't burn out like lamps (in the middle of the night on the weekend when no stores are open) and pay for themselves in electricity on a single brood.. far superior choice if you're still deciding!

The clump of dirt from pasture is great inoculation to prevent coccidiosis before heading to pasture full time and highly recommended! But should NOT be done during the quarantine phase of Marek's vaccine.

Marek's vaccinated chicks will not effect non vaccinated or vise versa.. noting that Marek's vaccine ONLY hides the symptoms if the birds are infected so you won't know it or have to deal with it. Marek's is considered ubiquitous.

Hope your babies are loud and healthy when they arrive!

ETA: amprolium works by mimicking thiamine to starve out and slow the growth of coccidia.. it does not actively kill anything and any supplement that includes B vitamins may negate it's use. It is not an antibiotic.

 

[Sara S]

I am new to ckickens... So new, that I will receive my first 10 chicks on Thursday. I bought these 10 from Tractor Supply. They are coming to me non-vaccinated. Their website mentions feeding medicated food. I read through a lot of the threads on here that say medicated feed is not necessary so long as you keep their area clean. That is easy enough. However, should these birds be vaccinated and if so am I supposed to do it myself if so, what am I looking for?

Next issue that I have created for myself, I also ordered 5 more chicks from a local feed store, which come vaccinated. They will be available about 2 weeks later than my first 10. Do I need to keep them separated?

Thank you for all of your advise.

I would give them medicated, I always have and my chicks are healthy. You don’t have to vaccinate, it is your choice and they will be okay so long as you keep their brooder clean. GOOD LUCK!!! and show us pictures of them!

 

[cherrynberry]

I am new to ckickens... So new, that I will receive my first 10 chicks on Thursday. I bought these 10 from Tractor Supply. They are coming to me non-vaccinated. Their website mentions feeding medicated food. I read through a lot of the threads on here that say medicated feed is not necessary so long as you keep their area clean. That is easy enough. However, should these birds be vaccinated and if so am I supposed to do it myself if so, what am I looking for?

Next issue that I have created for myself, I also ordered 5 more chicks from a local feed store, which come vaccinated. They will be available about 2 weeks later than my first 10. Do I need to keep them separated?

Thank you for all of your advise.

I have never vaccinated my chicks before. I have fed medicated AND also fed nonmedicated. It is honestly your choice. Medicated chick starter has a tiny bit of amprolium, which is also the same thing as corid. Corid is a medication for coccidiosis and coccidiosis can kill chicks at an early age. Coccidiosis is an intestinal disease that can cause blood in their stools and cause chicks to become legthargic. It is caused by coccidia, a parasite that is naturally found in the soil. The amount of amprolium in medicated feed is not enough to treat a slightly worse case of coccidiosis, so it is mostly just a preventative. Some people like to introduce dirt to their chicks so that they build immunity themselves with no outside help. However, some folks also like to provide medicated feed during this time. It is entirely your choice, I hope this helps.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

View attachment 3009859

The TSC employee is misinformed as preventative vaccines are not considered drugs and ARE accepted in the use of organics.. See the top of page 3 from USDA website.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Poultry - Guidelines.pdf

The real reason they don't do it is probably multi faceted. Ultimately it's up to consumers to be informed.. TSC is just a retailer, a middle man who does not keep birds.

Of course the hatcheries all have their breeding stock vaccinated (and hiding the disease ), it's the industry standard. They can't take the losses to this virus and they usually do recommend or offer it when ordering direct from them. Marek's isn't required to be reported by law or NPIP and it doesn't pass into the egg.

For me, even the vaccine bottle for $20 (pre covid) would treat 1000 birds.. I wouldn't consider it a waste to treat 10 birds at the same price. Waste is relative to outcome. To me the waste is doing it after the proper time for efficacy. But I say this only for discussion purposes.

The most relevant information regarding Marek's all in one place..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Pine Shavings]

I hear that if they are vaccinated and you give them medicated feed they cancel each other out and they become susceptible to coccio again

 

[EggSighted4Life]

According to my tracking they shipped out today. If it were you, would you get whatever it takes to vaccinate these birds for Marek's especially since the other one's I am getting are already vaccinated for it? Where do I get that vaccine? How is it administered?

They print the shipping ticket before they are actually sent out, unless they were sent yesterday.. they go to their local post office around 4 pm in most cases, it'd be worth trying.

No, I wouldn't vaccinate myself, by the time they arrive it's too late to be considered effective.. plus add the human error factor. I would keep them as is and see what happens. Marek's don't scare me, and despite my state poultry vet saying it is ubiquitous.. plenty of folks never see or experience it.

 

[MyGirlDitto]

They print the shipping ticket before they are actually sent out, unless they were sent yesterday.. they go to their local post office around 4 pm in most cases, it'd be worth trying.

No, I wouldn't vaccinate myself, by the time they arrive it's too late to be considered effective.. plus add the human error factor. I would keep them as is and see what happens. Marek's don't scare me, and despite my state poultry vet saying it is ubiquitous.. plenty of folks never see or experience it.

Thank you so much for all of your help!

 

[MyGirlDitto]

The TSC employee is misinformed as preventative vaccines are not considered drugs and ARE accepted in the use of organics.. See the top of page 3 from USDA website.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Poultry - Guidelines.pdf

The real reason they don't do it is probably multi faceted. Ultimately it's up to consumers to be informed.. TSC is just a retailer, a middle man who does not keep birds.

Of course the hatcheries all have their breeding stock vaccinated (and hiding the disease ), it's the industry standard. They can't take the losses to this virus and they usually do recommend or offer it when ordering direct from them. Marek's isn't required to be reported by law or NPIP and it doesn't pass into the egg.

For me, even the vaccine bottle for $20 (pre covid) would treat 1000 birds.. I wouldn't consider it a waste to treat 10 birds at the same price. Waste is relative to outcome. To me the waste is doing it after the proper time for efficacy. But I say this only for discussion purposes.

The most relevant information regarding Marek's all in one place..

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

I truly appreciate all of the input. Thank you!