Free hens ... but not vaccinated

[leicestershirelass]

We have been offered some 'free' young hens, but reluctant to take them, as after looking at adverts selling hens they all say that they are fully vaccinated.

How much does it cost to have young hens vaccinated and how often does this need doing?

also offered one/two young cockerel/s, but unsure about 'disposing' of any male offspring that may result in having hens + cockerel.

Is it better to just have hens and replenish as and when necessary?

I'd appreciate your advice and guidance please. Thanks

Forgot to mention: we would like to keep hens for eggs not for breeding/eating them

[Suechooks]

Pure breed hens are rarely vaccinated. Its only the laying hybrids usually as they are hatched in tens of thousands and the vaccines are supplied accordingly in 10,000 doses at a time which have to be used immediately, so its not financially practical for the average small breeder to vaccinate (or even large breeder!)
You can't yet get hens vaccinated after they leave the hatchery (as far as I'm aware anyway - someone will correct me if I'm wrong!)
Unless you live in rural paradise with no neighbours I'd leave the cockerel(s) where they are!
Regarding any offspring - DON'T HATCH IF YOU CAN'T DISPATCH!
If this is your first venture into keeping chickens you need to do plenty of research BEFORE you get the birds. There's a wealth of information on this forum to help you.
Main warning is that chooks are addictive! Good luck

[RichmondHens]

The first question I would ask is why are they free, particularly if they are young? They should be worth at least £10 each and more if close to point of lay. Are you sure someone is not just trying to palm you off with some sick birds? If you are still set on getting them take someone experienced with chickens along to examine them before you agree to have them. They may spot something you don't.

I agree with Sue about the cocks, better not take them to ensure no offspring are produced accidentally, then you would have to deal with unwanted boys (as no doubt the current owner has found out).

[leicestershirelass]

Hi - thanks for your responses.

The hens were offered by someone I know and trust who thinks that they have to be vaccinated before selling them (theirs are pure breeds)..... so now wondering why adverts for chickens mainly include 'fully vaccinated'??

You've both confirmed what I was thinking about having a cockerel - thanks for advice.

Whilst on the subject, another friend who has a few hens is also considering taking a few free ones ... what is the likelihood that the new ones will pass on diseases / infections to the existing ones?

[motherhen]

I agree with RH and Suechooks, there is a lot of info available from the web and forum's but to the newbie keeper this can be a minefield of conflicting information.
I would pay for the right birds and if you want eggs, go for hybrids from a proper trustworthy supplier, who will look after you., you've got to ask yourself "why are they free".
Do not have cockerels, as you will see on this forum some can be interesting to handle and they are surplus to requirements, if you do not want to hatch why bother.

[Hilary B]

Hi - thanks for your responses.

The hens were offered by someone I know and trust who thinks that they have to be vaccinated before selling them (theirs are pure breeds)..... so now wondering why adverts for chickens mainly include 'fully vaccinated'??

You've both confirmed what I was thinking about having a cockerel - thanks for advice.

Whilst on the subject, another friend who has a few hens is also considering taking a few free ones ... what is the likelihood that the new ones will pass on diseases / infections to the existing ones?

If the hens your friend already has are vaccinated, they should be protected. That is what vaccination is meant to do. If the 'incomers' are unvaccinated, it simply means that if the relevant disease turns up those will be the ones that get it!
Unvaccinated creatures do not infect vaccinated ones, occasionally it happens the other way about (if the vaccinated ones happen to be 'carriers', not suffering the disease because they are immune, but having the infection about them, this is rare!)

[Snadger]

The cost of POL hens has rocketed so I have started breeding my own. Its natural, its an ongoing process, it appears to give me good heinz birds which lay well. None of them are vaccinated. It hasn't been a problem up til now!

[Bramble-Poultry]

well, vacinations such as for Mareks or salmonella are usually done whilst the chicks are still very small, infact long before they have feathers.

As suggested before, the vaccines are usually supplied in doses suitable for thousands of birds as they are geared up for the commercial breeder. It is unlikely that the small time backyard breeder will have the money to vaccinate such a small amount of birds.

The one thing i will say about salmonella testing is that whilst it provides protection for the bird itself, sometimes the bird can shed the virus in its feaces. Therefore it is possible, or though not likely, that a bird can release the virus and another bird pick it up if its not vacinated

Therefore i would prefer all your birds to be either vacinated, or not rather than a miss mash of some that are or some that arent as otherwise you will get the false impression that your birds are covered.

[chris]

Salmonella is something that bothers me.. I posted about it before but still worry.. If I break an egg and the shell goes into the egg (which is often) then surely that egg (if the virus was on the shell?) will be contaminated? It bothers me, not because of my own consumption of the eggs but my little one (17 months), and wife who is very very early preggo. Mind you, she can't eat eggs at the mo as they make her feel sick.

Do any of you dip the egg in boiling water before use? I've heard that, in doing that it can kill the virus?

[leicestershirelass]

Thanks again for advice and guidance .. certainly aspects that need to think about.

[Hilary B]

Salmonella is something that bothers me.. I posted about it before but still worry.. If I break an egg and the shell goes into the egg (which is often) then surely that egg (if the virus was on the shell?) will be contaminated? It bothers me, not because of my own consumption of the eggs but my little one (17 months), and wife who is very very early preggo. Mind you, she can't eat eggs at the mo as they make her feel sick.

Do any of you dip the egg in boiling water before use? I've heard that, in doing that it can kill the virus?

The other option would be to wipe the egg shell with Milton a little while before breaking the egg.
If the hens are kept in your own back garden, odds are that any Salmonella they may carry will be a strain to which you have built up at least some immunity. When we had a private water supply from a shallow well, visitors occasionally got ill, and the one who was tested turned out to have Salmonella, but it never gave any resident a problem, including my youngest child, age about 18 months when we moved there.

[petal]

i agree, you toughen up over time and become immune to natures bugs. bet my family all have worms mind, best get the pripsin out!

[RichmondHens]

Hazards of having children at school - these things go round and round! One of mine came home with headlice just in time for the Xmas hols. Lovely!

[polo]

Oh yes RH been there recently! In my experience, Children are great carriers of most things!!

I reckon a few bugs are good for you but not while youre pregnant though (Chris - can see why you are concerned). Just make sure you cook the eggs all the way through and you will have no problems.

Polo