Worming and Vaccinations

[tati1170]

My question is when and how should i worm and vaccinate my chickens? I am new to having chickens. We have a small flock 10 hens and 1large rooster, 2 bannie roosters and a silkie. My flock are the chicks i got last spring, so they are about a year old we also have a few ducks and geese and some chicks.


I feed the chicks the medicated starter but i have never dewormed my chickens. Mostly the free range all day and when the go to roost at night we lock them up. I have read bunches of books and information on the internet. But all have different suggestions. i just want to make sure, i am taking care of them correctly.

I have never seen any worms or anything weird, when cleaning out thier coop, which i try to do on a weekly basis. Please let me know what i should use for them. I tried calling our vet and they dont vaccinate chickens...

 

[cameronfarm]

You need to be careful with worming, read the brand you purchase as it usually leads to a period of inedible eggs and some even recommend you never eat the eggs.

As for vaccinations check with your local extensions office. They will recommend any needed vaccinations for your area. For example the infection rate for Mareks was .0008% in 2007 for the whole united states, mostly concentrated in the pacific north west. Newcastle-Bronchitis is a live virus vaccine, which can hold its own risks as it actively infects you bird with a weakened form of the virus.

If it makes you comfortable go for it, but its probably not needed for a small backyard flock.

 

[dawg53]

You need to be careful with worming, read the brand you purchase as it usually leads to a period of inedible eggs and some even recommend you never eat the eggs.

As for vaccinations check with your local extensions office. They will recommend any needed vaccinations for your area. For example the infection rate for Mareks was .0008% in 2007 for the whole united states, mostly concentrated in the pacific north west. Newcastle-Bronchitis is a live virus vaccine, which can hold its own risks as it actively infects you bird with a weakened form of the virus.

If it makes you comfortable go for it, but its probably not needed for a small backyard flock.

What wormers say that you can NEVER eat the eggs?

 

[cameronfarm]

What wormers say that you can NEVER eat the eggs?

http://www.jefferspet.com/wazine-34/camid/liv/cp/A2-P9/

 

[realsis]

with wayzine 14 i believe egg withdrawal period is 14 days and 30 for incubation.

 

[dawg53]

Quote: If the chicken is good to eat after 14 days, so are the eggs. I've eaten the eggs 14 days after using wazine, I'm still here typing this.

 

[cameronfarm]

If the chicken is good to eat after 14 days, so are the eggs. I've eaten the eggs 14 days after using wazine, I'm still here typing this.

lol, I didn't say it would kill you. Just that they say don't eat the eggs I'm more of a control, monitor, treat kind of person. I don't like blanket medicating animals, I believe its one of the top reasons we have gotten our food supply in this mess. But thats my opinion / choice, to each his own

 

[dawg53]

Quote: Actually, the only reason manufacturers of worming products for poultry state that eggs arnt edible after treatment is because of commercial operations, not backyard flocks. Layers in commercial operations are never wormed and sent off for processing at the 2 year mark. Birds for meat production live much less, about 6 months, and then processed. For these reasons there hasnt been any long term testing of how much residue are in the eggs from wormers, not cost effective to establish egg withdrawal periods. Since poultry is considered livestock and the big money is in slaughter for meat, in most cases testing has been done, thus slaughter withdrawal periods. To save money from testing eggs, it's legally easier to simply say that the eggs are not edible, period.
Generally, it's safe to eat eggs after 14 days from worming no matter what the wormer is. Some folks eat the eggs without waiting, however there's always a possibilty that a person could have an adverse reaction to the residue if they are sensitive to that particular product. The same is true for antibiotics residue in eggs. I HAVE seen more official egg withdrawal periods with antibiotics than wormers.