New to chickens........

[feetrus]

Hi folks,
After having a disastrous [and emotional] experience with quails last year! I decided to have chickens in my life! I picked up 2 girls on Friday, an Amber Star called Miss, and a Light Sussex called Match, both bought from a local [very good] organic farm, so are not vaccinated - QUESTION, should I get them vaccinated ? I had so much support from Marigold and others last year.... I hope I don't have to post too much to ask questions!!

Hope everyone [chickens and humans] are enjoying this lovely weather?

 

[NEWTODUCKS]

Hi,
I don't think you can get them vaccinated yourself as the vaccine comes in large quantities to do a large amount of chickens. None of mine are vaccinated, I think it's just large breeders that need to do it to comply with DEFRA.

 

[chrismahon]

Vaccinations are only available in large quantities are are only generally necessary in the Commercial world, where keeping standards are perfect for breeding disease. There are some problems that might be considered worth vaccinating for if you are a Pedigee breeder, but if you buy unvaccinated birds just be sure you always do, as vaccinated birds done at a young age, can transmit serious viruses to older birds. Effectively vaccinated birds are infectious virus carriers, so you go one way or another. We had a problem when we introduced birds vaccinated with live viruses (now common practice as it's easier and far cheaper) as they infected all our old non-vaccinated birds. We then had to run two separate flocks -infected and not infected. In my opinion vaccinations are best avoided. Just watch what you buy in and keep your chickens in good health.

 

[Marigold]

Vaccinations happen at various stages of a chicks life, much as with children. So if you are buying them at POL it would be too late to vaccinate them fully in any case.
I have always had a mixed flock of vaccinated hybrids and unvaccinated purebreds and have never had any health problems from cross- infection. It can sometimes happen, as it did with Chris's flock, but I think that may have been really to do with the health of the birds in the first place, he was just unlucky. The man thing is to only buy from a breeder where you are as confident as you can be about the health of the birds and the way they have been kept.
Good luck with Miss and Match, we would love to see some pictures. I'm sure you'll enjoy them.

 

[feetrus]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I understand your points, I do trust the breeder, and all the chickens seen seemed very healthy. She also does boarding but the boarders are kept very separate from her chooks. Thanks again for your input. Will post pictures when I can.

 

[chrismahon]

Just to add. Four years on and we have now integrated the two flocks with no noticeable problems. So they are not infectious forever. From what I have read ILT can be transmitted for two years and IB for 12 months.