As with humans, vaccination is key to preventing a handful of diseases that can affect your gamefowls’ performance, and may even bring serious damage to its health. But gamefowl vaccination can be quite confusing and overwhelming, especially if you’re new in the field. To help you, read on for a quick guide on the must-knows, along with a sample of a vaccination schedule and a runthrough of techniques you can use for administering vaccines.
Types of Gamefowl Vaccination
In reading and researching about gamefowl vaccination, you’re likely to encounter the terms live vaccine, attenuated vaccine and killed vaccine. These are different types of vaccines, requiring different ways of handling and administering. Here are more of what you need to know.
Live Vaccine
A vaccine is a live one if the active content is live bacteria. Because the bacteria is likely to cause sickness and a few pains, live vaccines are usually administered under the strict supervision of a veterinarian. It’s also important that poultry due for vaccination with live vaccines are prepared by making sure they are healthy.
In handling live vaccines, proper storage with the right temperature is a must. Keeping the bacteria alive is crucial, so make sure that the vaccine is not exposed to too much heat, and is kept away from disinfectants, chlorinated water and other cleaning chemicals.
Attenuated Vaccine
Attenuated vaccines also contain live bacteria. To differentiate from live vaccines, this type of vaccine underwent a different production process and is milder in terms of its effects.
Because it also has live bacteria, careful storage in cool places is a requirement. Experts recommend using ice boxes, if refrigerator space is limited.
Killed Vaccine
Killed vaccines carry killed bacteria. Unlike the previous types, killed vaccines have little-to-no unpleasant effects on your gamefowl after administration. Unfortunately, with its milder effects is its mild improvement on poultry’s immunity against diseases.
Gamefowl Vaccination Schedule
There are many programs that you can check for gamefowl vaccination. For deciding and sticking to one, check if it’s vet-approved and if it works well for your gamefowl’s breed.
To give you an idea on how a vaccination schedule looks like, check out this table.
| Age | Disease | Vaccine | Medication after Vaccination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1; if signs are already present in the farm | Marek’s | Marek’s vaccine | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| Gumboro | IBD Gumboro vaccine | ||
| 3 days old | Newcastle disease (NCD) | B1B1 | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 7 days old | Newcastle disease(NCD) | B1 La sota | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 14 days old | Gumboro | IBD | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 21 days old | Fowl pox | Fowl pox vaccine | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| Killed Vaccines | |||
| 42 days old | Mycoplasma | Mycoplasma vaccine | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 56 days old | Fowl cholera | Fowl cholera vaccine | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| Live Vaccines | |||
| 60 days old | Coryza | Coryza vaccine | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 74 days old | Newcastle disease (NCD) | B1 La sota booster | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 88 days old | Gumboro | IBD | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 150 days old | Fowl pox | Fowl pox vaccine | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 180 days old | NCD, IBD | La Sota + IB | Antibiotics or vitamins |
| 187 days old | Fowl pox | Fowl pox vaccine | Antibiotics or vitamins |
Note that vaccinations and the use of antibiotics are best consulted with veterinarians first.
Gamefowl Vaccination Techniques
Gamefowl vaccination techniques vary, and which one to administer a vaccine with depends on factors such as gamefowl breed, age, and type of vaccine. Check out your options for gamefowl vaccination techniques.
- Oral
As its name suggests, vaccines administered orally are given through the mouth. This technique is best for quick action on the respiratory and digestive systems. Less stressful compared to other options, the vaccine is mixed with the gamefowls’ drinking water. - Nasal
Nasal or vaccine administration through the nostrils suits medicine that’s in powder form or in drops. Make sure that the applicator or dropper is not faulty, as this may lead to over- or under-dosing. - Eye or ocular
Ocular administration of meds or vaccines requires a dropper. Oculars are best for targeting the respiratory tract through the lacrimal duct. - Transfixation and scarification
Through transfixation and scarification, the medicine or vaccine is transported into the chicken’s skin using two tuberculin needles with an applicator that is inserted into the poultry’s wing web. - Injection
Using a needle and syringe, the medicine or vaccine is injected into the gamefowl’s muscles (intramuscular) or into a deeper skin layer (subcutaneous).
Stay on top of your gamefowls’s health needs with features on poultry care from UNAHCO.
