Posted in Homestead Barnyard
This can be a controversial issue among backyard flock enthusiast, whether or not to vaccinate your chickens. The whole point for us to keep chickens and get eggs, is for them to be vaccination and antibiotic free. We have chosen to go the route of unmedicated chickens and feed. We did get an eye infection before they were laying, and gave them an antibiotic for that. However, since laying we are strictly unmedicated. If our chickens were to get another infection we would probably quarantine that chicken off from the flock. Here is a great site to chicken diseases: http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/disviral.htm
If you are going to choose to vaccinate your chickens against these diseases here is a schedule for vaccination:
Disease Prevention Program Disease Vaccination Schedule
Newcastle Disease: In hatchery or at 4 days using the drinking water method. Revaccinate at 4 weeks and 16 weeks in the drinking water with B1 type vaccine.
Infectious Bronchitis: In hatchery or at 4 days using the drinking water method. Revaccinate at 16 weeks using drinking water method.
Marek's Disease: In hatchery using subcutaneous injection.
Fowl Pox: Vaccinate at 12 weeks of age using wing-web stab method.
As early as 1 day of age if mosquitoes are present.
Coccidiosis: Daily feeding of drug in ration (up to 14-20 weeks).
I know some hatcheries such as Murray McMurray Hatchery will vaccinate your chicks before shipping them.
For us, it is just a matter of going as organic with our eggs, as we can. It's an individual decision and preference but I hope this information is helpful in your decision.
Trixi Spencer is a wife of 17 ½ years and mother to three home schooled children. We live on a small acreage in Ms. where we keep chickens and horses. I am a saved by grace follower of Jesus Christ who enjoys sewing, cooking from scratch, gardening, putting food by, raising animals, and all the things of an era gone by. We love life and all that it has to offer.
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