Y or N to Vaccinate baby chicks???

[colebarnhart]

Thanks so much for the great info!!!!!

 

[belgiansRbest]

We received 25 birds from a reputable hatchery vaccinted for Mareks and coccidiosis. One of them was a golden polish, who, it seemed, was always very itchy, constantly grooming himself. Now the chick are 4 weeks old, and this itchy chick is very ill. He has the shivers if he is not under heat or in my jacket, and if disturbed from slumber he has a short seizure -like thing where he looks as if something is caught in his throat. He will "seize" when ever the other chicks step on him while he is sleeping.
The chicks all have access to fresh water and non medicated feed, fresh grass clippings and are inside at 75 degrees now. (I reduced the temp to this today. This chick is the only one shivering. I am wondering if he could have some sort of condition as a result of the vaccination. I havent seen him eat or drink all day, he seems weak and uncoordinated when he tries to walk.
What do you think?
Thanks
Sara

 

[tlcmama]

Couple of things - I read somewhere along the line that the chicks should be exposed to the soil before getting the medicated feed?
Is it better to do this than vaccinate them and give them non medicated feed?

I was really surprised to hear that there is such a low incidence of Mareks - I thought it was like some sort of chicken pandemic.

At any rate I recently had to put a pullet down after she was paralyzed for a week, lying on right side only with legs sticking out, neck twisting and malnourished despite ALL my Chicken ICU treatment. I assumed she had Mareks but did not do a necropsy.

I have 6eggs under a broody hen right now and am trying to figure out what to do. I am pretty sure I want to vaccinate the chicks for Mareks b/c if it is what my pullet had, the rest of the flock is carrying it now.

Where can I order a quantity smaller than 1,000 doses??

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

Im in the process of ordering a batch of broiler chicks, I haven't decided whether or not to vaccinate (didn't last year and things seemes ok). I appreciate all the info you folks posted here.