Vaccination of chickens: basic recommendations for owners

As Valeria Bocharova, state inspector of the Oryol inter-district department of state veterinary and phytosanitary supervision, explains, vaccination is necessary to protect against the most common and dangerous diseases that threaten the life of the entire herd, such as Newcastle disease , Marek's disease, infectious bronchitis and coccidiosis.

it is recommended to develop an individual vaccination schedule with the participation of a veterinarian. A sample plan may look like this:

• Day 1 – vaccination against Marek’s disease;
• 5-7 days - primary vaccination against Newcastle disease;
• 10-14 days – primary vaccination against infectious bronchitis;
• 3-4 weeks - revaccination against Newcastle disease;
• 6-8 weeks - revaccination against infectious bronchitis;
• 10-12 weeks - vaccination against egg drop syndrome;
• Before the start of egg laying - vaccination against infectious laryngotracheitis.

For adult hens, revaccination is usually done every 6-12 months. It is important to monitor the HEALTH of the bird and not vaccinate sick hens or those that are laying eggs .

It should also be taken into account that vaccination is not recommended during molting, when the bird's immunity is weakened. Owners should monitor the chickens' reaction to the vaccine and, if there are negative symptoms, contact a veterinarian. Vaccines are available at veterinary pharmacies, pet stores, and online.