Kenya Poultry Partnership

Effective and proper vaccination programme in poultry is necessary to prevent mortality and losses from many dreadful poultry diseases. Vaccination programmes are available against the major poultry diseases. All birds reared on your farm either for your own stock or for sale to the public must be properly vaccinated.

(a) The schedule of vaccination should be as follows:

1.      Newcastle vaccine should be administered at the time of hatch or within first 7 days of age. One drop of vaccine in the eyes or one drop in the nostril is given. Care should be taken not to release the chick until it has inhaled the nasal drop and/or blinked its eye.

2.      Newcastle and Fowl Pox Vaccination: - This vaccination must be given when birds reach 6 weeks of age. Fowl Pox and Newcastle vaccine are suspended in 50% glycerin saline solution and the birds’ inoculated by the web stick method in the web of the wing.

(b) It is essential that all four vaccinations are given and in the proper sequence. A sufficient stock of properly refrigerated vaccine must always be kept on hand and all vaccinations are to be given according to instructions. It is equally important to observe birds after vaccination to make certain that the vaccine has been effectively given.

(c) Precautions

Water soluble antibiotic/electrolyte can be given in the water 4 days prior to and 5 days after the vaccination to reduce stress.

VACCINATION CALENDAR

The vaccination schedule is a general guide. Each farm and area will require some changes in the schedule. Following table can be used as a general guideline.

LAYERS

It is necessary to keep proper records on date of vaccination and on vaccines used including type, brand, serial number, date of purchase and date of use of vaccine.

BROILERS.