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Embryo Vaccinations

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Birdcrazy:
One advantage to using an alcahol swab is that when you swab the neck area the fuzz almost disappears and you have a clearer view of the skin below. I have done as Mike said and not swabed the area and have not had any bad effects. I do make sure the needle is swabed with alcahol between injections.

grisaboy:

--- Quote from: Sharon Yorks ---Have any of you heard of embryo vaccinations
--- End quote ---


This type of vaccination is usually done in a laboratory setting where you can maintain a sterile environment.  In order to inject the embryo, you have penetrate the shell.  This introduces the possibility of contamination by various microbial organisms.  You can\'t just push a needle through the shell either.  You have to drill a very small hole in the shell, do your injection, then seal the hole back up with some kind of glue like \'gluco-cement\' or superglue.
I don\'t think this type of procedure would be much of a time saver and the risk of contamination of the embryo would mean you would have to see big rewards to make it pay off.  

The chick vaccination seems like a much simpler and effective process.

Curtis

Beth C:
Do they actually inject the embryo or just the fluid?

I started out using an alcohol pad to wipe the needle between chicks, but have to admit I\'ve gotten lazy about doing it. I haven\'t had any infections/reactions from vaccines. Although I did have a chick\'s foot turn black a few days after toe punching it. Anyone had that happen?

Sharon Yorks:
So (hypothetically) what happens if your chicks take more than a day to hatch? Let\'s say they start hatching at 10:00am and you see pipping in a few eggs the next morning? I guess my question is, how long can you wait to vaccinate them? I\'m assuming you would want all of them up on their feet and dried off, right? Mine are due to hatch this Thursday. I\'m hoping they all hatch during that first day.

Okay, so put chicks in a separate tub. Alcohol soaked cotton balls or pads next to tub (use sparingly to not chill chick) Mix the solution, shake gently to mix, then draw out an ml or so. Have friend grab the chick I like the least, then dab the back of the neck just enough to lay down the hair so I can see any blood vessels and have friend hold the chick\'s head down. Pinch up a little bit of skin and barely stick needle (facing sideways) under the skin, then only administer .2ml, then set chick under heat light, then pray I did it right...wait! I better pray before I start. Can you tell I\'m a little nervous about this? Give me a horse\'s rump or a puppy and I\'m fine, but a baby chick? They\'re so little! Oh, yeah. Clean off reading glasses before starting. WHAT AM I MISSING?

Is there any incubation period after vaccinating them that the live virus can transfer off of them to anything else...I\'m thinking more on my close since the chicks will be in my office for several weeks.

Sharon

Birdcrazy:
You do not have to vacinate at day old. I usually wait until the incubator is done hatching for that batch. Yes that means the oldest chicks might be close to 2-3 days old (usually only a very few hatch early-usually 90% on due hatch day-and a few straglers the next day). It takes at least 10 days for chicks to build up an immunity after vacination, so they should not be exposed to older birds or housing that might be contaminated with the virus. I usually keep chicks isolated for 3-4 weeks as a precaution.

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