Eggquisite Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 We have a dilemma!! Is it best to have young chickens vaccinated? When we say young.. around the age of 8 weeks? Should they have vaccinations against disease at all? We're a little bit unsure now having received info. from two separate parties.. one saying vaccinate & one saying don't.. Any thoughts would be really helpful.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
half dozen Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Id like to know that as well! what do I do about my chicks??? Do I and When do I vaccinate them????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I asked the breeder (where we got our girls from) and she said it isn't necessary for a small flock to have chicks vaccinated - as long as you use common sense and keep things clean. She said breeders do it because they have larger flocks and use them as a precaution because they don't want to lose all their stock. There were probably more reasons, but I couldn't remember them all. Hope this helps. I am sure someone in the know will be along soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 This came up recently I think. I've seen a video and they vaccinate the chicks when they're still in the egg! Other vaccinations have to be given through drinking water aswell. I think they only sell them in huge quantities. It's best to ring your vet or a breeder and ask what they think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggquisite Posted April 26, 2009 Author Share Posted April 26, 2009 Thanks guys... problem now exacerbated by the fact one breeder won't be vaccinating our Pekins the other however, will be vaccinating the Light Sussex! Surely we can't have 2 vaccinated birds & 3 not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Theres no reason why you can't have them together. It just means that if the unvaccinated birds have something they could have potentially passed it on to the others, but because they are vaccinated, it doesn't matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I'm thinking of vaccinating my next lot of chicks against Mareks. This vaccine has to be given in the first few days though. I spoke to an avian vet about it last week and even though I knew it came in batches of 100 what I didn't realise was that only costs £30. I should have about 20 chicks so for £1.50 each I can be sure they'll never get Mareks. Silkies are prone to it apparently and there will be some Silkies in the hatch. Even if I don't find anybody locally to share the excess vaccine with it is still a small price to pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 The vaccinations are often added to the drinking water, or sprayed into the air and are given in the very early days of the chickens life.....and have to be bought in industrial quantities, I read up and asked around on this before I hatched my chicks, and concluded that it wasn't vital in a back yard flock. In any case, there are no guarantees with the vaccinated hens, as the vaccine doesn't always take and there is no way of knowing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 I'll try and remember to ask next time I'm at the farm or vets, but I don't think they vaccinate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
