[mwncigirl]

Do people who keep/breed chooks generally vaccinate? Not really thought of this before, but we're thiknking of getting some new layers, would you buy vaccinated chooks at point of lay? Or could you vaccinate yourself? What do people generally vaccinate against? Thanks

[Casey76]

Commercial breeders will normally vaccinate their hybrid layers.

There is a very complicated vaccination schedule starting at 1 day old, up to 16 weeks, for about 16 ailments (this is what battery hens get)

Home producers generally don't, because the vaccines are only available in 500-1000 dose vials, and some have to be used withing 1hour of opening (and some are very expensive).

Theoretically, if you buy vaccinated hens, you shouldn't then buy unvaccinated hens, because some vaccines are live, and the vaccinated hens effetively become carriers, shedding live virus for the unvaccinated hens to catch.

For home producers, good husbandry is the key to good health (plenty of space, good food and fresh air, and good cleanliness).

[mwncigirl]

Great, thank you. I was getting muddled with it all but that makes lots of sense!

[mwncigirl]

Hang on, does that mean our ex-bats could be carrying something and we should keep them separate??

[Casey76]

Your ex bats should be fine, because without boosters the vaccine "runs out" after about 2 years

[Sassy]

Commercial breeders need to vaccinate due to the unnatural conditions they keep their chooks in. Well kept and with good housekeepong you should be fine unnvacinated as are most backyard keepers. Being vaccinated does not necessarily mean they will not get sick with something the vaccine is supposed to prevent.