What vaccinations should I give to an adult hen?

[lildinkem]

I have very limited poutry experience. In my brief 2 years of having chickens, the firstyear was the worst. I did not know about vaccinating. I lost about 10% of my flock to something that is inherit on my proerty. And what ever is was, it seemed to be the most harmful to my purebred birds from fancy breeders. One of those fancy big name chickens was a cockerel. And I grew fond of him quickly, then he got sick from this stuff. I wantd to get him inside to take care of him and I did not care that I ws exposing him to everything in my brooder room. The cockerel eventually died in that room. From that experience, I learned that most every chick who I raised up, and survived from that time, who was in the room is immune to this crap. No one has died from it in close to a year, chick or adult. Then a friend told me what I did was what his grandpa did back when he was a boy. This friend is clos to 65 years old. He said back then there was no TSC, no needles, no one vaccinating. And I know I should vaccinate. It is a crap shoot IF I don't. I do not advocate what I do. It is just my experience in chickens. And I like them to be alive till I want them dead.

 

[blackred]

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I have never known any breeder that does this, there are some that enter birds and then sell them ( hopefully the judge placed them high) but I know of no one that does this on a normal basis.
This idea is a left over from the old Stringman days.

A Stringman would put a group of birds on a train to a number of shows. At each stop the birds were taken to the show by the people putting on the show, and taken care of. Most of these shows would last a minimum of 3 days and some for 5. After the show they would be boxed up and sent to the next show. After 4 or 5 shows they would be sold. You can well imagine why they were sold.

In this day and age of 1 day and even half day shows where you are there with your birds, you can pretty much tell if the bird next to yours is sick. Yes I know there are hidden dangers but as RYU said- it is worth the risk.

I have requested that sick birds be removed from a show and the show personal have been happy to do so. Except for lice I have never brought anything on my birds home with me, in over 25 years.

Bob

 

[blackred]

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The big problem I see with your final conclusion to vaccinate is that you have no idea what so ever what killed your birds. How will you know what to vaccinate for?

Your friend was trying to tell you that in the old days they didn't vaccinate and they had healthy flocks because they bred for Genetic resistance to diseases. Which is what I and most exhibitors do.

Bob

 

[Splash Giants]

^^^^^^^Agree Completely

 

[Ryu]

I have one friend who does not bring birds back from shows. He's got his Master Breeder status, and only brings birds to show that are arranged to be sold. He shows them, them sells them, and the new owners take them home.

I think that is an awesome set up! He pays for his some if not all his trip, and doesn't have to pack up after the awards are given out. Win, Win, Win situation.

I've gotten into the debate about breeding for inherited genetic resistance here on this forum before. In my opinion, that unless you are actively innoculating your flock with disease--or your flock has survived an accidentally generated outbreak of a known cause, you can't say you've bred for any type of disease resistance.

I don't have a problem with people saying,'I don't vaccinate, my birds don't get sick." But I really cringe when they say they've bred for resistance. I ask what pathogens they have introduced and they think I'm crazy. "Nobody does that."--Exactly. I would never expect someone to do that--most of these diseases are flock killers, but I don't like to hear the implication that they have actively selected for resistance to pathogens when they are really just selecting for healthy birds.

 

[blackred]

Quote:
Bob

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
The big problem I see with your final conclusion to vaccinate is that you have no idea what so ever what killed your birds. How will you know what to vaccinate for?

Your friend was trying to tell you that in the old days they didn't vaccinate and they had healthy flocks because they bred for Genetic resistance to diseases. Which is what I and most exhibitors do.

Bob

I use Tylan. It did not work. I agree I haven't a clue what is was. And the best thing I did is to rewrite my lines with new blood. Virtually every bird I have now is either going to a new line within that breed, or is offspring from different lines. The birds that survived, are the ones I want to be breeders in my flock. They proven to be survivors. And like I said, I have some very hardy birds.
I don't think at all about disease when I show. More about keeping my birds clean.
I like the idea of breeding healthy resistant birds. The mix of one Exhibition Buff Orp breeders lines to a $6 cockerel I bought off CL last year has made some gorgeous Buffs, that lay two eggs to one when comparedto their parent stock. And do not get sock. That is what it is all about. Enjoying your birds and not panicing on every sneeze.