What vaccines do my chicken need?

[donrae]

I do let only the strongest survive. If a bird is unwell here, I observe her for a day or two, depending on my judgment. If she starts looking better, fine. If not, we put her down. I try not to let them suffer and just die on their own. Once a bird is prone to illness or issues such as being eggbound, imo, she's always going to be a problem and I don't have the time, patience or frankly the inclination to coddle along special needs birds.

You save the world if you want. I'm going to save my flock.

I'm done here.

 

[Stewarts]

I do let only the strongest survive. If a bird is unwell here, I observe her for a day or two, depending on my judgment. If she starts looking better, fine. If not, we put her down. I try not to let them suffer and just die on their own. Once a bird is prone to illness or issues such as being eggbound, imo, she's always going to be a problem and I don't have the time, patience or frankly the inclination to coddle along special needs birds.

You save the world if you want. I'm going to save my flock.

I'm done here.

Pretty hard to 'save your flock' when you refuse to take the time to look after them properly and you lack both the patience and 'frankly the inclination' to bother.

 

[minimaj03]

Well, this has become quit the responsive thread. I appreciate everyone's opinions and information.

 

[Stewarts]

Its up to you, of course but I'm glad if I can help.

 

[StruckBy]

"Struckby has never vaccinated and never had any problems and free ranges the birds. Its perfectly ok not to vaccinate, in fact its safer for bird and human."


Whoa! Don't drag me into this! All I said was that I didn't vaccinate my birds and haven't had problems. There are WAY too many variables in what people use their chickens for, what the exposure risk is, what their risk tolerance is, etc for me to even begin to think everyone should do things the same way. (And as it happens, one of the things that pisses me off more than anything else is people who don't vaccinate their kids because of some quack who has been 100% disproven for years.) Some people treat sick/injured birds, other people humanely euthanize them immediately rather than seeing them suffer &/or putting the rest of the flock at risk. Some of us take it situation by situation. You do what's right for you and leave everyone else to do the same.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I do think it is important to remember that on this forum there are a really wide variety of people who raise poultry for a lot of different reasons -- and chickens are not pets for everyone. Some folks on here have these birds as a fun backyard pet that also gives eggs and those birds are free to live out there full lives regardless of production. For other people chickens are not pets at all -- they are farm animals. Raising birds is a very serious part of their diet and the operation runs on a tight production schedule and budget to make it work. For others, its a small business. For lots, myself included, we fall somewhere in the middle. I think that there are positives in all of these things and that is important to respect each other.

I do not think it is fair to compare humanely culling unhealthy birds or not choosing to adopt unhealthy birds with not "looking after your birds properly." As part of a breeding or farming operation culling is a part of maintaining healthy animals. It might not be the same situation with pets. I don't think this really has anything to do with the daily level of care a flock receives. The morality of lifestock is complex and individual.

I rescue dogs. Every single dog that I have rescued -- even ones from great organizations have arrived with health issues. All of them have had contagious parasites, some more than one kind. I am prepared to deal with this in terms of space, finances, time, knowledge. It is a big commitment and I take it very seriously. I feel very strongly about my rescued dogs but I do not think everyone should do it.

That being said I would not in my current situation rescue a bird. I have a small flock and I do not have the resources to quarantine, diagnose, treat, introduce and know for certain that all involved would stay healthy and stressfree.

It is wonderful that your turkey is doing well and I am glad that everything went smoothly for you and that you had the resources to do that. I don't think it works for everyone.

To the OP - I have been keeping chickens for 4 years now and have never vaccinated. I think the posted advice about checking locally for any area-specific issues is a good idea. I would also ask who you are wanting to buy from what they do and then read about those vaccines (if any) to make sure thats what you want.

 

[jonalisa]

Just thought I'd mention that Marek's vaccine (and those who have more experience, correct me if I am wrong) has to be given to the chick no later than one day old. I think that is why it is offered by the hatcheries.
My advice is to check with other chicken owners in your area to see if Marek's has been present locally.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

....Birds around here get better or they die, that's just how it goes. IMO treating illness leads to unthrifty birds that have to be coddled to stay alive. I need healthy, thrifty, uncomplicated birds.

....I'm not trading birds with anyone, or having anyone give birds to me.... But I can guarantee if you bought birds from me, they'd be healthy, not carriers of anything, and you'd not risk your flock buying birds from me...

What part of my "attitude is harsh"? The fact I won't take in birds with questionable histories? That's not harsh, that's good biosecurity. So, so many threads here about folks bringing in "rescue" birds or even just older birds and introducing illness and losing their flock, or winding up with a flock of carriers where they CAN'T sell or swap birds. I chose to keep my flock safe, that's "harsh"? No, it's smart....

I fail to see how putting down a Typhoid Marry hen is cruel. When you've been raising chickens for a few years you will one day be forced to answer the question, "Do I sacrifice my whole flock for the sake of one sick chicken that as sure as god makes little green apples is going to die anyway?"

Donrae, I agree with your assessment about contagious poultry diseases. My other chickens and family members are too important to jeopardize for the sake of one sick chicken.

 

[Stewarts]

For one that will die and does threaten the rest of the flock, yes, put it down. For a bird that needs a little SuperBoost in the water for three days to cure some minor ailment, that is no reason to end its life.

 

[TOP KNOT]

For one that will die and does threaten the rest of the flock, yes, put it down. For a bird that needs a little SuperBoost in the water for three days to cure some minor ailment, that is no reason to end its life.

I think you misunderstand the rest of us. I didn't take Donrae response as putting down the mildly under the weather birds, just culling the really sick, infest the rest of the flock with the deadly plague birds.........