Immunity is produced when poultry are vaccinated, although the vaccine in itself cannot guarantee it. When vaccination failures occur, the total vaccination program should be reviewed. Although vaccination offers a method of preventing many poultry diseases from establishing themselves, certain drugs and antibiotics are needed to help alleviate the. Mortality and morbidity rates due to Fowl Typhoid may reach up to 80%. Fowl typhoid has been eradicated from Australia, North America, and most European countries, where rigorous biosecurity and specific control programs including vaccination and good management practices have been largely applied.
- Vaccination Program For Gamefowl
- Vaccination Program For Gamefowl Chicks
- Thunderbird Vaccination Program For Gamefowl
- Best Vaccination Program For Gamefowl
Vaccines can dramatically reduce losses when used correctly to prevent disease in animals.
There are different types of vaccines: live vaccines give long immunity after a single dose, while; inactivated vaccines need booster doses to maintain immunity. Anti-toxins are not vaccines - they provide immediate but short-term protection against a disease.
Selecting the right vaccine
It is important to know which diseases animals should be vaccinated against. There are some common diseases that animals should be routinely protected against such as tetanus in horses or botulism in cattle. In some circumstances, disease should be diagnosed by a private veterinarian who will advise whether vaccination is recommended. Vaccine use should be part of a whole herd or flock health management program, incorporating biosecurity and disease prevention measures.
Some diseases may have several strains of causal organisms and some vaccines cover several disease complexes, so it is important to buy the correct vaccine for the situation. This is particularly relevant where more than one type of vaccine is available (e.g. five-in-one or seven-in-one vaccine for cattle). Seven-in-one vaccine is a five-in-one vaccine that has been combined with two strains of leptospirosis vaccine. Leptospirosis is a contagious bacterial disease that affects young calves and breeding females, causing stillbirths and abortion in late pregnancy. It is more expensive than the five-in-one vaccine so its use should be targeted to reduce costs.
It is also important to check that a vaccine is registered for the stock being vaccinated (e.g. there is a three-in-one and a six-in-one vaccine registered for sheep and lambs only, as well as two similar products which are registered for goats and kids in addition to sheep and lambs).
Some vaccines registered for the same disease but manufactured by different companies have different dosage regimes and booster recommendations (e.g. botulism vaccines for cattle and infectious bronchitis and Newcastle disease vaccines for poultry).
Buy only what you need
Vaccines are expensive and it is important to buy only as much as you need. Many vaccines are administered with a repeating syringe and you will need enough doses to vaccinate all animals, allow for some waste and accidents.
Many poultry vaccines come in 1000-dose lots, which are inconvenient for small-scale producers. However, keeping opened containers or reconstituted vaccines is not recommended. This practice may cause the vaccine to fail to achieve protection and it could also cause illness due to the growth of contaminants in reconstituted vaccines.
Storing vaccines
As vaccines are biological products they will slowly lose their potency, even when stored under ideal conditions. The manufacturer has determined the expiry date for each batch of vaccine and provided it is stored correctly, it will retain its full potency up to the date shown.
Each vaccine has specific storage conditions. The majority of vaccines must be stored in a refrigerator where they are kept cold but not subject to freezing and thawing. Freezing may reduce the potency of some vaccines and may cause local reactions at the injection site.
Follow label instructions
Vaccines must pass rigorous examination of their efficacy and safety by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority before they can be sold. They are produced under the most stringent conditions and if they are not handled and administered correctly after leaving the production facility, their effectiveness can be reduced or non-existent.
The label on the vaccine carries important information about using the vaccine correctly: dosage; injection site; recommended vaccination program; and storage instructions. Users of veterinary chemicals are required by law to follow the label instructions unless they are using the chemical according to an approved permit or as directed in written instructions from a veterinarian. Vaccines are expensive and the label instructions should be followed to make the most of your investment.
Use sterile and safe equipment
Vaccines are usually administered by a syringe and needle although some are administered in the water supply or intranasally. Many vaccines are packaged in multi-dose containers for use with automatic syringes, which must be calibrated to deliver the right dose.
Needles should be sharp and as short as possible when vaccinating subcutaneously. Long needles may break or deposit the vaccine into the muscle instead of under the skin.
It is important that infection is not introduced when vaccinating animals. Equipment can be sterilised between use in a pressure cooker for 15 minutes, or by boiling in an open pan for 40 minutes. Chemicals, such as disinfectants or methylated spirits, should not be used as they may make the vaccine ineffective. After syringes and needles have been sterilised they should be kept in a covered container to protect them from dust.
Administering vaccines
In general, vaccines take 10-14 days to give protection. Vaccination should be part of a herd or flock health program. For vaccines to be most effective consider their use carefully in relation to the type of stock, season, previous property history and disease incidence e.g. young animals should be protected against the common and predictable diseases before management events such as castration, shearing, weaning and movement to new properties.
To get the most out of your vaccines protect them from heat or sunlight by keeping them in an Esky until required. Keep vaccines and equipment away from dirt and dust, which can contaminate equipment and introduce infection. Use a small table to help keep vaccines and equipment clean and off the ground.
Do not mix different vaccines together. Combined vaccines require a great deal of care in balancing the components. However, if more than one vaccine is required use separate syringes and administer them at different sites, at least 15 cm apart and preferably on different sides of the animal's body.
If conducting tick fever vaccinations, do not give other vaccinations at the same time. If it is unavoidable, use a separate syringe for each treatment and administer them on opposite sides of the animal's body. Ideally, other inoculations should be performed either two weeks before or four weeks after tick fever vaccination, particularly in adult animals, which are more likely to react to the tick fever vaccine.
Avoid carcass damage by administering the vaccine according to label instructions and use the least commercially valuable site on the animal, for example high on the neck behind the ear.
When vaccinating a herd, ensure a full dose of vaccine is given to every animal. Check syringes carefully to ensure that the correct dose is being delivered. Give the required booster injection at the correct time to all animals that require it.
Keep people safe
Some animal vaccines can cause a serious reaction if accidently injected into people. Therefore, the person administering the vaccine should concentrate on the safe use of the syringe and needle and not attempt other tasks such as moving or restraining the animal.
Further information
Poultry Health
Welcome!
This page is made to help backyard poultry owners raise their birds in strong, healthy flocks. It will provide information on topics including poultry management and disease prevention.
Newcastle disease Vaccine Reconstitution and Application
Have a question or concern about your poultry? Contact one of our experts at poultry@ucdavis.edu!
Important information:
- Vaccines do not make up for poor management and biosecurity.
- Vaccines need to be properly handled to work effectively.
- Use vaccines that have a U.S. Veterinary License Number on the label and follow the label instructions.
- Vaccines may cause adverse reactions in your animal. Please contact your local veterinarian if this occurs.
New Gamefowl Wellness program for your birds!
- A gamefowl wellness program will be designed to address education, outreach and surveillance in game bird flocks. Scientific terminology will be broken down in a practical message to keep owners educated and engaged.
- By paying a small program fee, participants will be trained on educational topics including immune response basics, breeding, animal welfare, behavior, nutrition, disease detection and prevention, management practices, biosecurity, euthanasia and proper disposal, vaccination technique, egg incubation, and prevention of loose birds in neighborhoods.
- Focus group meetings and training events will be hosted with experts from UC Davis and the CAHEN program from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
- The program will provide training to breeders on proper administration and justification of Newcastle disease vaccine use.
- All Personally Identifiable Information of participants will be maintained and administered by UC Davis.
Interstate Poultry Entry Requirements
Refer to this informational chart to learn the poultry import requirements for each state.
For information on requirements for international travel, please visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel.
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 96 “Infectious Laryngotracheitis with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
May 4, 2021
“In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Dr. Gallardo about Infectious Laryngotracheitis, otherwise known as ILT. This is an extremely contagious virus that affects chickens and other poultry. The virus attacks the cells of the trachea (windpipe), leading to bleeding and difficulty breathing, and ultimately death. This is maybe one of the Worst and most Devastating diseases known to backyard chickens. It can destroy your whole strain, in a matter of days, and the sad part is, most don’t take proper precautions. We are going to talk about the causes and symptoms of this disease, and how to prevent exposure.”
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy:https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep96-infectious-laryngotracheitis-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 92 “Infectious Bronchitis with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
March 29, 2021
“In this episode of Bred to Perfection, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo about Infectious bronchitis (IBV), which is an acute, highly contagious respiratory disease of chickens, caused by a type of coronavirus.
This is a disease that can be found on many yards and farms, without the breeders even knowing it. In most cases, they will confuse Bronchitis with other respiratory diseases, such as Coryza.
What they don’t realize is that Infectious Bronchitis has a huge effect on our brood fowl and their offspring, and can affect the future of our strains. Listen in and learn what you can do to treat and control this disease, and hopefully prevent it. There’s a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.”
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy:https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep92-infectious-bronchitis-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 88 “Marek’s Disease with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
February 15, 2021
“Today, we are talking with Dr. Gallardo about Marek’s Disease. This is a Pathogenic Virus, also known as Fowl Paralysis or Range Paralysis. Marek's Disease is by far one of the most common illnesses for backyard breeders and small flocks. Yet, it’s one of the most preventable illnesses out there. It can take on many forms, from no signs to paralysis, to blindness, to sudden death. There has been quite a bit of misinformation about Marek's Disease. So, today we are going to address the topic of Marek’s and clear up some of those misconceptions, and give our listeners a better understanding. There’s a lot of great nuggets of information that I know you will not want to miss.”
Vaccination Program For Gamefowl
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy:https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep88-mareks-disease-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 84 “Coccidiosis with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
January 18, 2021
Vaccination Program For Gamefowl Chicks
“Today, we are talking with Poultry Veterinarian, Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo about Coccidiosis, also known as Coxy. For good reason too, Coccidiosis is one of the most common diseases, and can have a huge effect on your strain. For example, coccidiosis affects all backyard breeders. It affects how your offspring grow and develop. And, it can have an effect on your overall strain.”
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy:https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep84-coccidiosis-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 81 “Infectious Coryza with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
December 14, 2020
“In this episode, we talk with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo, a Poultry Veterinarian from UC Davis, about Infectious Coryza. Unfortunately, this is a disease found in many backyard flocks, and one that is highly misunderstood. Dr. Gallardo will talk with us about how the disease is transmitted, and how to prevent exposure. We will also discuss whether or not it’s good practice to vaccinate for coryza, and which medications are most effective to treat the disease. This episode is packed with great information, and one you do not want to miss.”
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy: https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep81-infectious-coryza-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 78 “Fowl Pox with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
November 16, 2020
“In this episode, we will talk about Fowl Pox, what causes the disease, how to prevent infection, and what to do if your birds get infected.”
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy Website:https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep78-fowl-pox-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 76 “Biosecurity Basics with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
October 19, 2020
“In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo about the practice and importance of biosecurity. Most Breeders don’t understand biosecurity, and the importance of keeping your bird safe from the exposure of disease. Some of us have strains that we’ve been keeping for over 30 years. Losing our birds to disease would be a travesty. What we are going to talk about today, if you follow it, will save your flock, and protect those valuable and irreplaceable strains. There’s a lot of good information packed into this episode that I know you do not want to miss.”
Thunderbird Vaccination Program For Gamefowl
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy Website:https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep76-biosecurity-basics-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Kenny Troiano’s Breeders Academy – Episode 73 “The Gamefowl Wellness Program with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo”
September 28, 2020
Best Vaccination Program For Gamefowl
“In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Rodrigo Gallardo from UC Davis about their new Gamefowl Wellness Program, which is designed to help backyard breeder, specially, breeders of American Games, to raise and breed healthier birds, and to protect their birds from future outbreaks of Newcastle’s Disease. There’s a lot of good information packed into this episode that I know you will not want to miss.”
Listen to this episode at the Breeders Academy Website:https://www.breedersacademy.com/ep73-the-gamefowl-wellness-program-with-dr-rodrigo-gallardo/
Common Backyard Poultry Diseases
- Marek’s, Fowl Pox (ENG) (pdf)
- Coccidiosis, Coryza (ENG) (pdf)