vaccinations & medications/treatments for backyard chook

ChooksInAinslie · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:11 pm

Hi, I only have a few chooks in the backyard as entertaining pets. I will be buying eggs shortly for the hen who is broody. I live in Canberra. What sort of vaccinations and other regular medications/treatments should I be giving? Someone said that the vaccinations weren't viable on a small scale due to the huge quantity/cost.
What's people's opinion?

Cheers
ChooksInAinslie

garbage2 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:59 pm **Posts:** 184

You can give them vitamins every 6 months.

As for vaccinations,i dont vaccinate,alot (Most?) breeders dont either.

You just need to watch them for disease and treat them when it comes about-which shouldnt be very often if you are just sticking to the stock you have & not bring in alot of birds

Kai

ChooksInAinslie · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:50 pm

Thanks. I am hoping to buy a few more birds, but it may only be eggs.

Happyhenz. · **Joined:** Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:49 am **Posts:** 607

shouldnt have any worries i worm mine every 3 months and vitamins every 6 months dust for lice/mites when needed.

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi ChooksInAinslie, as a minimum, start your Chicks on Medicated Chick Starter keep them on it for 4-5 weeks before you slowly wean then on to Grain.

If you decide not to Vaccinate, you should operate on a “Closed System" to limit the risk of disease out-break, such as Mareks.

A "Closed System" is little or no incoming stock. Any & all incoming birds must be quarantined for a period no less than 14 days, 21 is ideal. You must assume they are carries and treat them accordingly.

We Vaccinate & operate a "Closed System"

Works for Us

Thanks
P.A

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:27 pm

I just give them chick starter and treat anything that get sick

Jeff

ChooksInAinslie · **Posted:** Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:08 pm

Thanks to all who replied. There seems to be a variety of management systems out there.

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

As always - I'm a bit late on the uptake!!

I feed starter until 9 weeks of age then change over a few days to grower - mixing them together 50/50 at 1st then building up the grower - I feed the grower until the first egg is laid or the first crow is heard. Vitamins are essential of course.

I also work on a closed community -rarely bring in new birds - and no one other than who lives on our property and one other person is allowed near our birds. And we use a barrier system as a precaution against anything we may have accidentally brought home. If I do bring in new birds I quarantine them for a minimum of 30 days.

Kai is right - most breeders don't vaccinate preferring to breed for disease resistance. If you bring a bird [that has been vaccinsted] into an unvaccinated colony there is always the risk of the bird not having the disease but being a carrier. Once you do vaccinate it is advised you continue to and vaccinate every bird that hatches for the safety and survival of the flock.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:58 pm

I appreciate the idea of breeding disease-resistant birds - it's a great way to go - however I have decided to vaccinate as all our chooks are pets and I don't really want to lose any particular individuals to disease if we can help it.

Even with a vaccinated flock the "closed system" and isolation of new birds is still a good idea as there are all sorts of nasties out there!

Deb :-D

Joanne Homes · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:28 pm

Wow have I got lots to learn

just thought the were bomb proof

Joanne

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