The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Housing, Health & Hatching
Embryo Vaccinations
John:
Here is a link to a video showing vaccination of chicks at a large commercial operation. It\'s good information, just faster than me and my syringe.
http://youtu.be/oDex4fitTWY
Also, here is a link to an article on the subject by Peter Brown.
http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/content/view/17/37/
FYI...Peter had a heart attach back on February 6th. It slowed him up slightly and and said he was \"under Doctors Orders to slow down and do less\" in an email later that week. I haven\'t heard anything since and assume he is doing well.
Mike Gilbert:
I keep my chicks in a shoebox lined with textured paper toweling until they are vaccinated, typically the day after they are hatched. Don\'t use anything slick like newspaper to prevent spraddled legs. The shoebox is placed on top of the incubator, which is warm, and the heat radiating through is sufficient to keep the chicks comfortable until it is time to vaccinate. I punch a small hole or two in the box for fresh air. Afterward, they go back into a clean shoebox and back on top of the incubator until the brooder is warmed and ready for them. To prevent pasting, I start the chicks on raw oatmeal flakes for the first two days, then gradually change them over to medicated chick starter. I have also learned to not use cold water at first, as it is too much of a shock to their little metabolisms. Using lukewarm water seems to be much healthier for them. This helps especially the more delicate bantams.
Birdcrazy:
Here is a pretty good down to earth site for explaining mareks vacination for the small flock raiser. http://poultryone.com/articles/mareks.html
Sharon Yorks:
--- Quote from: Mike Gilbert --- To prevent pasting, I start the chicks on raw oatmeal flakes for the first two days, then gradually change them over to medicated chick starter.
--- End quote ---
This is interesting. Are you talking about the Quaker 1 minute oatmeal you buy in a large round container? I knew about the warm water, just never heard about the oatmeal.
I read the article by Peter Brown. That was very informative and helpful. I didn\'t know he had had a heart attack. I sometime catch him on Mondays on the Chicken Whisperer program, but have missed it lately. Let us know if you hear an update.
I watched the YouTube video. Made me cringe at how those babies are handled. I\'m also hearing that the vaccine lasts for up to 2 hours. I can see how it\'s best to keep the 1 hour plan in mind, but at least I\'ll have a little breathing room if the first few times goes a little slower than planned. And it\'s also good to know the chicks can be vaccinated later than a day old if they don\'t all hatch at once. It seems that my splash pen is a very aggressive hatcher. They are always the first ones out, and last month when my thermometer got messed up and my bator was too high, the splash hatched out (early) anyway. None of the others made it. And another person got eggs from me and didn\'t know a still air incubator was supposed to be set at 102 instead of 99.5 (I didn\'t know either) 4 splash made it out. I\'m thinking I have a pretty special cockerel, huh? Thanks, Paul!
Okay. I think I\'m ready. Bring on the chicks!
Sharon
Mike Gilbert:
Sharon wrote, \"This is interesting. Are you talking about the Quaker 1 minute oatmeal you buy in a large round container? I knew about the warm water, just never heard about the oatmeal.\"
Yes, I think most any kind of uncooked oatmeal flakes would work. It is not a 100% preventative, but I have noticed that it helps. Apparently the chick starter is just a little too rich at first for some strains, especially bantams. I use a 20% protein medicated starter, and once they get going on it, they do fine.
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