what to do with new chicks?

[Thundrr-Chicken]

ok so as usual we jump in with both feet without being all that knowledgeable .... but im ok with that... learning is learning.. however.. i have questions...

lets say you have zero chickens... but want them... go to a swap... buy chicks that are a week old... bring them home and put them in a brooder... do they need vaccines of any kind? my question is... do you need to medicate any chicks that are new to you???

secondly... if you go and get other chicks from other people... do you medicate them as well as quarantine them???

i've been reading like a mad man for a couple weeks but i dont see the subject... i see when you buy from a hatchery that they offer vaccines... but what do you do as an individual purchasing them from another individual???

thanks in advance

 

[KellyHM]

Most people don't vaccinate chickens for backyard flocks, even when they get them from hatcheries. Vaccines are sold in 1000-dose vials, so it's pointless, plus most have to be given right after hatching.

Chicks should all be on medicated starter (to prevent coccidia). Other than that no need for actual antibiotics or medications. You should quarantine new chicks for 30 days.

Hope that helps!

 

[KellyHM]

By the way, howdy neighbor!

 

[SmartyChick]

The only vaccination of chicks I know is at the hatchery. Other than that, you don't vaccinate them. I personally don't get them vaccinated for Mereks. If you get more chickens than the ones you have, I would quarantine them if they are not from a hatchery. Then you can integrate them together in one big brooder depending on their ages. God Bless with the new chicks!

 

[mboreham1]

chicks do NOT HAVE to be on medicated feed, it is a point of preference, i have 7 extremely healthy chickens ranging in age from 3 weeks to 1 year old, NONE have eaten a morsel of medicated feed in their life. I choose not to because what goes into my chickens goes into my food supply and choose not to put cocci vaccine into it. I have not had a problem with disease.

Apart from that i ditto what everyone else has said!

 

[Thundrr-Chicken]

well... looks like we're doin what we should be i guess... that is the kind of feed we are feeding... and kelly.. my "inlaws" live over in polk county... we go there every now and then... thanks everyone for your help here