Proposal to vaccinate hens???

[mama1803]

I think I'll stick with my farm fresh eggs!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynewspoint/ynewspoint_ts3507

[mamadelbosque]

Many chickens are already vaccinated for coccidossis so it wouldn't surprise me if they come out w/ a way to vaccinate for salmonella.. and many people who raise chickens on their farms will likely get it too. Just cause' you get 'farm fresh' eggs doesn't mean the chickens weren't fed medicated chicken starter, or vaccinated as chicks. Likely they were. In fact, almos certainly they were unless they are specifically sold as 'organic' or not having been vaxed/medicated as chicks.

[mama1803]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

Many chickens are already vaccinated for coccidossis so it wouldn't surprise me if they come out w/ a way to vaccinate for salmonella.. and many people who raise chickens on their farms will likely get it too. Just cause' you get 'farm fresh' eggs doesn't mean the chickens weren't fed medicated chicken starter, or vaccinated as chicks. Likely they were. In fact, almos certainly they were unless they are specifically sold as 'organic' or not having been vaxed/medicated as chicks.

I purchase my eggs from Polyface. I just looked over their website and as best I can tell they use Ridgeway Hatchery in Ohio for chicks. Does anyone know if Polyface/Ridgeway vaccinates their chicks or uses medicated chicken starter?

[greenmulberry]

Well hatcheries don't feed the chicks before they are shipped, so they would not have been giving medicated chick starter if they shipped the chicks.


Polyface calls themselves "beyond organic" so I would not expect them to use medicated starter.

Dunno about the vaccines. You usually have to pay extra to get vaccines in chicks, so unless the people wanting the chicks pay for it, I don't think hatcheries are just vaccinating.

[mamadelbosque]

No, they aren't just vaccinating, but they are recommending/suggesting it. And lots of people have it done. I'd guess polyface probably doesn't but if your set that you don't want your eggs from places that feed medicated chicken starter (which is the standard), or from chickens who were vaccinated as chicks, you'd best double check. Thats all I'm saying - that just cause your eggs come from a farm doesn't, doesnt mean they werent fed medicated starter and/or vaccinated.

[Pepper44]

It's very, very common for chicks to be vaccinated for several common diseases. It only costs a few extra cents per chick from the hatchery.

[CherryBomb]

I have my chickens vaxed for mareks and give medicated chick starter. Mareks and coccidioss (however its spelled!) are seriously devestating, it's not worth risking it to me. They're for our personal consumption Beyond that my chickens have never had anything other medication. Almost everyone I know who has chickens does the same. And it's my understanding that neither violates the organic egg standards, either, assuming the feed is non GMO and free of synthetic fertilization (I could be wrong on this though, correct me if I am!)

That said, I think this is another case where higher standards for cleanliness and animal welfare would do more good. Like how the factory farming industry overuses antiobiotics so they can keep animals in filthy and crowded conditions. Sigh.

[*farmergirl*]

a vax just ignores the underlying issue- the conditions chickens are kept in are not good in any way. That,s what needs to change.
As for the hatcheries it depends on the place but like pp say you can purchase vaxs for like 1-3 cents per chick when you order chicks but they generally don't just vax. sometimes if you get them from a feed store they may come standard as vaxed unless requested otherwise. I do think medicated chick starter is worth it. Coccidiosis is naturally occurring and if your chickens get it (and its common) they will die and the few that survive will be severely weakened. You an treat it will medication which is just a much higher dose of the same medication in the starter feed. Chicks are so delicate and die quite easily at first. It is only suppose to be feed up to 16 weeks after that they will have built up some immunity. 16 weeks til they start laying is a long time to get they residual medication out of their system. sure you CAN not feed it but its a risk that might mean loosing the whole flock.