If you have chickens - be it thousands or just three - you will need to vaccinate them to keep them healthy. There are many ways to do this, although some are more effective in large-scale production, such as the backpack nebulizer vaccination method, while others are more suitable for vaccinating chickens one at a time, such as the subcutaneous injection method.. Read this article to learn about the different methods. If you have never vaccinated chickens before, we recommend that you consult a veterinarian with whom you can examine the best methods based on your situation.
Steps
Method 1 of 8: Prepare for Any Type of Vaccination
Step 1. Give the chicks their first vaccination at the right time
It is typically necessary to give several vaccines at different times throughout a chicken's life. Most vaccines are done soon after the chicks are born. Always speak to a veterinarian before vaccinating them, if you have never done so before Below you will find a general guide for the most common vaccinations and when they should be given:
- Escherichia Coli: one day old.
- Marek's disease: from one day to 3 weeks of age.
- Gumboro disease: at 10 - 28 days of age.
- Infectious bronchitis: at 16 - 20 weeks of age.
- Newcastle disease: at 16 - 20 weeks of age.
- Adenovirus: at 16 - 20 weeks of age.
- Salmonellosis: from day of life to 16 weeks of age.
- Coccidiosis: from one day to 9 days of age.
- Infectious laryngotracheitis: 4 weeks of age and older.
Step 2. Do not give vaccines to chickens that lay eggs
The risk of the virus being transmitted via the oviduct into the egg, and then being transferred from where it could pose infection risks to other birds, is too high when vaccinating chickens while laying eggs.
Most vaccine manufacturers recommend vaccinating adult birds at least 4 weeks before the female begins laying. This ensures that the recipient of the vaccination is no longer capable of spreading the virus and therefore does not pose a risk of indirect transmission through the egg to birds in different locations
Step 3. Be aware which vaccines need to be given each year
Some vaccines need an annual booster injection to make sure they are still effective against the virus they were designed against. With other vaccines, only a single administration is required, which will give the animal the right protection for life.
- Vaccines that need an annual booster: infectious bronchitis, Newcastle disease, adenovirus, salmonella.
- Vaccines that do not need a booster: Marek's disease, Gumboro's disease, coccidiosis, infectious laryngotracheitis.
Step 4. Check the health of your chickens before vaccinating them
It is not recommended to vaccinate sick birds, as the virus may be too strong and could kill them. The best way to tell whether or not to vaccinate is to have a veterinarian examine the chickens to make sure they are in good health.
At the same time, your vet can advise you on the best way to vaccinate specific chickens
Step 5. Check and catalog vaccination information
It is very important to make sure you have the right vaccine, the right dosage and understand the best way to administer it. Make sure all information is correct and write it down. Here are some of them:
- Vaccine name;
- Lot number;
- Producer;
- Date of production;
- Expiration date;
- Which chickens are going to get that vaccine.
Step 6. Double check that the vaccine has been stored correctly
If it is believed that the vaccine should be stored at a specific temperature or location, it is important to check that storage has not been compromised in any way.
If you notice any breaks or that the temperature is not at the right level, you will need to cancel the vaccination and order another set of vaccines through your veterinarian
Step 7. Collect everything you need
In the following sections of this article we will talk about the different ways in which chickens can be vaccinated. Each method can only be applied to specific types of vaccination, in order to always be sure to follow the exact type of procedure. After making sure for the second time what you are going to do, collect everything you need so you can have it at hand when you are about to proceed with the vaccination.
For some vaccination methods it is necessary to resort to another or two other people, who help you form a team, if the vaccination method provides for it
Step 8. Sterilize the place where you set out to inject the vaccine
If you are considering using syringe and needle to give the chicken its vaccination, it is necessary to sterilize where you plan to do so. To sterilize the skin, dip a cotton swab in disinfectant (for example denatured alcohol), open a gap between the feathers at the injection site and rub the skin.
Method 2 of 8: Vaccinate with a Subcutaneous Injection
Step 1. Prepare for subcutaneous (SC) vaccination
Let the vaccine warm up to room temperature 12 hours before the vaccination process. Before preparing the mixture, double check that the vaccine is intended to be injected subcutaneously. Subcutaneous means that only the needle goes into the skin layers of the chicken, without pushing all the way into the muscle under the skin.
To prepare the vaccine, follow the instructions provided in the vaccine packaging
Step 2. Choose the injection site
SC injections can be performed in two places - on the dorsal (or upper) part of the animal's neck or in the inguinal fold. The crotch crease is the pocket between the abdomen and thighs.
Step 3. Have an assistant keep the chicken for you
It is easier to give an injection if you have both hands available. How you keep the chicken will depend on where you inject the vaccine.
- Neck: The assistant must hold the chicken so that the head is facing you. The assistant has to grab the wings and legs to make sure the chicken is standing still.
- Crotch crease: the assistant must hold the chicken upside down with the breast facing up. Basically the chicken should be lying on its back in your assistant's hands.
Step 4. Make a triangle with the skin of the chicken
While it may seem odd, doing so will help you insert the needle. Grab the skin of the chicken at the injection site, then lift it with the fingers and thumb of the non-dominant hand.
- Neck: With the middle finger, index finger and thumb lift the skin in the center of the upper part of the neck area. This will create a pocket between the neck muscles and the skin.
- Inguinal crease: Again, the inguinal crease is the pocket created between the abdomen and thighs. Lift the crotch crease with your fingers to feel the pocket or space created.
Step 5. Insert the needle into the skin of the chicken
Push the needle into the created pocket. Initially there will be resistance, but once the needle has passed through the skin and entered the subcutaneous space, it will penetrate very easily. You should feel initial resistance, followed by smooth movement.
If you still feel some resistance (as if there is something blocking the needle), it means that you may have pushed deep and inserted the needle into the muscle. If so, remove the needle and insert it at a different angle so that it enters more superficially into the skin of the chicken
Step 6. Inject the vaccine
Once the needle is properly inserted, push the plunger down and inject the vaccine into the chicken. Make sure you are transfusing all of the vaccine and that the needle does not stick out on the opposite side of the skin fold you are pulling.
Method 3 of 8: Vaccinate with an Intramuscular Injection
Step 1. Prepare the intramuscular vaccination
Intramuscular (IM) means that the needle you will use is inserted into the muscle of the chicken. The chest muscle is the best place to inject this type of vaccination. Follow the instructions that come with the vaccine to make sure you prepare it properly.
Step 2. Have an assistant keep the chicken on a table
It is easier to do this injection when the chicken is placed on a table. Your assistant will have to grab the hocks and legs of the chicken with one hand, while with the other take both wings at the root, while the chicken is lying on its side.
Step 3. Locate the sternum bone
The sternum bone is the bone that divides the chicken breast. It is advisable to inject the vaccine at a lateral point that is 2.5-4 cm from the sternum bone. This is the innermost part of the pectoral muscle, where the vaccine is easy to inject.
Step 4. Insert the needle holding it at a 45 degree angle
Holding the needle at a 45 degree angle to insert it into the animal will help ensure that it reaches the muscle under the skin. Check for blood.
If you notice that the spot is starting to bleed, it means you've hit a vein or artery. Remove the needle and try a different place
Step 5. Push the plunger down inside the syringe and inject the vaccine
Make sure that no part of the vaccine spills out while you are injecting. Once all the vaccine has been injected, remove the needle from the animal.
Method 4 of 8: Vaccinate with the eye drops
Step 1. Use a dropper for respiratory vaccines
This method is tedious, but it is the most effective and safest way to administer a respiratory vaccine. It is most commonly used in chicken farming for the production of chicks, with laying hens (chickens used for their eggs) and when you only have a small number of chickens to vaccinate.
Step 2. Prepare the vaccine solution by diluting it
Open the vial or vial of the vaccine and dilute the contents using a syringe with 3 ml of diluent (syringe and diluent are provided with the vaccine). Make sure the diluent temperature is 2-8 ° C.
- To make sure the diluent is always cold, always carry a ready-made ice container with you in which to put the vaccine bottle and diluent.
- If you plan to vaccinate several birds, you can divide the diluted vaccine into two or three clean bottles and keep them on ice. This way the vaccine will stay at the right temperature.
Step 3. Attach the dropper to the vaccine vial or bottle
Gently shake the vial several times before attaching the dropper. Once shaken, insert the dropper that should have been provided along with the vial or bottle containing the vaccine.
The dropper will look different depending on whether you are using the vial or the bottle. However, you should be able to attach it by pushing it over the rim or on the container or by screwing it on
Step 4. Have an assistant keep the chicken and apply the vaccine
Grab the animal's head and rotate it slightly so that the eye is facing you. Drop 0.03ml of the vaccine into the chicken's eye and wait a few seconds. If you wait a moment, you will ensure that the vaccine is absorbed by the eye, flowing through the nostrils.
Method 5 of 8: Vaccinate Using Drinking Water
Step 1. Use this method if you have a plumbing system in your chicken coop
This method should only be used if you are raising and trading chickens, because using it with a small amount, you will waste a large amount of the vaccine.
Step 2. Make sure the water system is clean
It is very important that it is clean, but also chlorine-free. Stop the flow of chlorine and other drugs into the water system at least 48 hours before vaccinating the chickens.
Step 3. Stop the water flow before vaccinating the chickens
To make sure that the chickens actually drink the water containing the vaccine, you should stop giving the chickens running water for some time before vaccination.
Remove the water 30 to 60 minutes before vaccination for hot climates, and 60 to 90 minutes for cold climates
Step 4. Calculate the amount of water the chickens will use over the course of two hours
Approximately it is possible to calculate the water consumption in liters for 2 hours, multiplying the number of chickens by their age and, therefore, multiplying by two.
- For example: 40,000 14-day-old chickens would mean 40 x 14 x 2 = 1120 liters of water for 2 hours.
- If you have a dispenser connected to the water system, add another step to the equation. For facilities that have dispensers with an injection rate equivalent to 2%, prepare the vaccine solution in a bucket with a capacity of 50 liters. To do this, multiply 2% by the water consumption calculated in 2 hours and put the amount in the bucket. Based on the previous example: 1120 liters x 0.02 = 22.4 liters. Mix the vaccine in the bucket and place the suction tube of the dispenser inside.
Step 5. Stabilize the water if you are using a manual drinker
Stabilize the water by putting 500 grams of skimmed milk for every 200 liters of water, or by using chlorine neutralizers, such as Cevamune®, 1 tablet every 100 liters. For structures with bell-shaped drinkers, mix the vaccines in the tank on top.
For automatic drinkers with dispensers use Cevamune® to stabilize the water. For the example used in the previous step, you would need about 11 tablets. The calculation was based on 1120 liters divided by 100 liters = 11.2 (1 tablet for every 100 liters). Mix the tablets with the 22.4 liters of water (from the example above)
Step 6. Let the water run again so that the chickens can be vaccinated
When the water returns, the chickens will start drinking. This way, they will receive their vaccination. Try to get the chickens to drink all of the vaccine water within an hour or two. Do not put chlorine or other drugs in water for at least 24 hours.
For facilities with manual troughs or basins, divide the vaccine solution into the basins or troughs equally. For structures with bell-shaped drinking troughs, simply open the tanks at the top letting the chickens go to drink. For facilities with automatic teat systems, simply open the valves
Method 6 of 8: Vaccinate with Backpack Sprayers
Step 1. Use a backpack sprayer for large-scale vaccinations
If you have a lot of chickens to vaccinate, the backpack sprayer is one of the quickest ways to accomplish this task. The device actually wears like a backpack on your back and can vaccinate many chickens at one time.
Step 2. Test the backpack sprayer device
Do a test spray by sprinkling four liters of distilled water into the backpack sprayer, and note the amount of time it takes before the device is completely emptied. Make sure the particle size of the nozzle is correct.
- For chicks (1 to 14 days) it should be 80 to 120 microns, for larger birds (28 days and older) it should be 30 to 60 microns (1).
- Desvac® and Field Spravac have nozzles with color codes and different grain sizes.
Step 3. Get the right amount of distilled water based on the size of each chicken
The total amount of distilled water will depend on the amount of chickens to be vaccinated and the vaccination age. As a rough guide:
500ml to 600ml distilled water is needed for every 1000 birds 14 days old, and 1000ml distilled water is needed for every 1000 birds 30 to 35 days old. For example: for a group of 14-day-old chickens made up of 30,000 birds, we calculate 30 x 500 = 15,000 ml or 15 liters of distilled water
Step 4. Prepare the vaccine solution
Only mix the vaccine when you are completely ready to vaccinate the chickens. First open the vial and pour the distilled water into it before mixing it in a clean container, with the right amount of distilled water (see step 2).
Mix the vaccine thoroughly using clean plastic stirrers
Step 5. Divide the vaccine evenly into the backpack sprayers and prepare the chicken coop
Prepare the structure by decreasing the level of ventilation and dimming the lights to calm the birds. Always proceed with vaccination in the coolest hours of the day.
Step 6. Vaccinate the chicks
After preparing the chicken coop and the vaccine, start vaccinating by letting a person walk slowly forward to separate the birds, while the vaccinators are behind him to the left and right. Sprayers need to walk slowly and aim the nozzle almost 1 meter above the chickens' heads.
As you spray, keep the nozzle pressure at about 4.5-5 atm. Each sprayer backpack brand is different, but there is always a way to read the pressure on the device
Step 7. Return the chicken pen to normal
After vaccination, immediately restore ventilation settings to normal. Turn the lights on again after a few minutes (5 to 10 minutes), to give the chickens time to rest.
Step 8. Clean the backpack sprayer
Clean the backpack sprayer with 4 liters of water, shaking it and spraying until it empties. Always check the backpack sprayer parts and replace them if necessary. For sprayers that run on batteries, always recharge them after each use.
Method 7 of 8: Vaccinate in the area of the connective membrane near the wing
Step 1. Use a serious disease vaccine intended for the connective membrane near the chicken wing
This solution is generally chosen when vaccinations against chicken anemia, avian cholera, avian encephalomyelitis and avian smallpox have to be carried out.
Step 2. Dilute the vaccine
The vaccine you will get should come with a diluent. The amount of diluent needed depends on the vaccine you will give the chickens. Follow the instructions provided with the vaccine for proper dilution.
Step 3. Have an assistant hold the chicken with the wing raised
Gently raise the right or left wing of the chicken. Show the connective membrane near the wing in front of you. This means exposing the underside of the wing so that it faces up. Gently pull a few feathers from the membrane, so you can see how you are doing and not pour the vaccine on the feathers.
The connective membrane near the wing is located near the bone where the wing connects to the body
Step 4. Dip the needle into the vaccine
Dip the applicator equipped with two needles into the vaccine bottle. Be careful not to dip the needle too deep. Only the wells of the two needles should be immersed in the vaccine.
Step 5. Penetrates the bottom of the connective membrane, but avoids blood vessels and bones
You can do this by centering the insertion of the needle in the center of the triangle formed by the connective membrane that joins the wing to the body, while the wing is enlarged.
If you accidentally hit a vein and blood comes out, replace the needle with a new one and repeat all over again
Step 6. Replace the needle and check that the vaccination was done correctly
Change the needle for a new one after you have vaccinated 500 chickens. Check after 7-10 days to make sure the vaccination was done correctly. To check:
Choose 50 birds per house and check for scabs under the connective membrane. If there are scabs or scars, the vaccination was successful
Method 8 of 8: Clean Up After Each Vaccination
Step 1. Properly dispose of all empty vaccine vials and bottles
To do this, you will first need to disinfect them in a bucket full of disinfectant and water (50 ml of glutaraldehyde in 5 liters of water).
Step 2. Recycle the vials and bottles
Some companies recycle flasks and bottles and use them for sample books. It can be done by first disinfecting the vials or bottles and then rinsing thoroughly. After rinsing, subject the containers to the action of the autoclave to make sure they are completely sterilized.
Step 3. Check the health of the chickens
It is always important to take a look at your chickens after vaccinating them. Look for any signs of something that has gone wrong. If you notice them, call a vet right away.
