A heavy heart

[Dizzy-Deb]

Is it so very important that the hens have all their jabs ?

 

I know major poulty suppliers do vaccinate but not so much the hobby breeder.

 

Whats the general opinion on this ? thanks xxx

[migsy]

I'm sorry that I bought non-vaccinated chickens after one died from Mareks but perhaps I was just unlucky.

[Redwing]

Its not cost effective to vaccinate on a small scale so as you say many people dont bother preferring in favour to build up a naturally resistant flock so I am not worried about buying birds that havent been vaccinated

 

That said there are some breeds that are very prone to certain problems, if I was buying a Silkie for example I would want to know it has been vaccinated against Mareks or at least have some reassurance that its from a resistant flock

 

There is an arguement that you shouldnt mix vaccinated and non vaccinated chooks in the same flock, I dont know enough about the science behind this to comment but plenty of people do mix them with no problems

[sparkysmum]

Don't think any of my ladies have been vaccinated. Perhaps Boris my ex batt, if battery hens are vaccinated

[miller30]

Ive found a few people lie and say their birds are vacinated when their not leanne.

[Mercedes55]

As far as I know all battery farm hens have been vaccinated at it's part of the government regulations.

 

I'm not sure if my new girls have been fully vaccinated or not. The place we bought them from has a vaccination programme but as ours were only 14wks old when we got them I'm not sure if they had all the relevant vaccinations

[Ain't Nobody Here]

None of my 8 hens have been vaccinated (they were bought from a farmer with a very small-scale operation). Not had any problems in 3 years (fingers crossed!)

[enpekt]

There is an arguement that you shouldnt mix vaccinated and non vaccinated chooks in the same flock, I dont know enough about the science behind this to comment but plenty of people do mix them with no problems

 

Our understanding is that a vaccinated chook might not suffer a disease, but still be a carrier of it, and could infect unvaccinated birds in the same flock.

Our vet also states that vaccinations don't protect a bird for life and that there's an equal or greater chance of a hen catching something from wild birds.

 

So, the benefit of vaccination v natural resistance could be considered questionable.

 

I reckon there's always the possibility of a free-ranging bird catching something as our vet bills prove!

[Chucky Mama]

The vaccinations don't last for life. I think that it is more important to have a good look as the chickens before buying them and to try and buy stock that is free from mycoplasma.

[bouldercroft]

I got my girls from a local breeder - when I asked about vaccinations he said that they are only useful if the whole flock has been vaccinated and you shouldn't mix vaccinated/not vaccinated - and I agree with him. My girls aren't vaccinated and seem very healthy and happy...

[madchickenlady]

None of mine are vaccinated. Few pure breed breeders vaccinate IME.

[beach chick]

pretty sure none of mine have ever been vaccinated, have only ever bought from small farms.

[Egluntyne]

Hobby breeders don't vaccinate as a general rule. Being sure of your supplier is very important if you are not buying from a commercial set up.

[The Dogmother]

Hobby breeders don't vaccinate as a general rule. Being sure of your supplier is very important if you are not buying from a commercial set up.

 

I agree - mine are all pure breed bantams and minis, none of them is vaccinated. I always inspect them carefully before buying, not just that bird, but the whole flock, including the pens and environment. I've yet to have any problems with disease.

[Aunty e]

I've had good and bad experiences with unvaccinated birds. If they seem healthy, it's worth the risk, and it can be hard to find pure breeds which are vaccinated. I've had hybrids which have just dropped dead too. Some of my pure breeds were still going strong at three/four years plus.

[Chortle Chook]

Sorry to be ignorant but how are chickens vaccinated? Is it an injection as for a dog or a s"Ooops, word censored!"ing as for us or something put in their food or water or that they are made to breath in?

 

I have 4 Silkies and 2 Frizzles. Only two of my Silikies are vaccinated (or at least the breeder said they were). Should I be doing something to protect the others against Mareks?

[Redwing]

I think many are put in the drinking water and some are sprayed on batches of chicks - most vaccinations are done to large batches of hybrid chicks so I guess individual handling isnt viable. Nearly all are are done within the first few days after hatch

[Space Chick]

I lost a silkie to Mareks, she hadn't been vaccinated. That said, my flock has a mix of vaccinated and non vaccinated girls, and I am never put off by lack of vaccinations. I look more for the health of the chicken.... I have seen some VERY dodgy looking vaccinated hens that I wouldn't touch with a barge pole

[The Dogmother]

I think many are put in the drinking water and some are sprayed on batches of chicks - most vaccinations are done to large batches of hybrid chicks so I guess individual handling isnt viable. Nearly all are are done within the first few days after hatch

 

That's right, which is why some chooks don't 'get ' the vaccine - if the spray misses them.

[chicks&bees]

On 12/9/2010 at 11:49 AM, Ain't Nobody Here said:

None of my 8 hens have been vaccinated (they were bought from a farmer with a very small-scale operation). Not had any problems in 3 years (fingers crossed!)

Hello, I would be very much interested to buy unvaccinated chickens, but struggling to find such farmer.

[mullethunter]

What country are you in?

[Naomi Smyth]

Oh yes, I am also interested in where to buy unvaccinated chickens in Wales or SW England.