buying vaccinated silkies

County Lodge · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:42 pm

Hi, I am new to silkies and I made the mistake of buying a couple that obviously had not been vaccinated and I am sure it was Marek's disease they died of as they began to stumble and then could not walk. I do not want to buy any more unless they have been vaccingated as I have read that the disease can remain in the pen for a long time even though I have cleaned it out and disinfected it. I really want to get some more and try my luck at breeding them. Can anyone help me? I live near Beaudesert. I have even made enquiries about vaccinating myself but it appears to be a very complicated process. I have some light sussex chooks that I have never had any problems with but I am a real novice when it comes to chooks.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:51 pm

Hi County Lodge - welcome to the forum. I am a new breeder, and bought some silkies myself that weren't vaccinated, and I didn't find out the importance of it until they were around 4 months old.

See if you can find yourself a friendly breeder of some sort who might offer to do your birds (for a small fee) when they do theirs.

I'm lucky to have some great pekin breeders near me who offered to do all of my chicks (17) for me when they did their few hundred! Admittedly they were done at a later age than recommended, but at least they're done and we've had no sign of disease. The same breeders today vaccinated all of my young ones against fowl pox, so hopefully you can find someone as helpful in your area. Have you tried contacting the Silkie Club of Australia (02 6553 6048)?

Alternatively, some vets will vaccinate them for you (for a much larger fee, of course!! :-D

)

There is a good thread on Marek's and vaccination in the Poultry Health and Wellbeing section of this forum.

Good luck with them!

Deb :-D

County Lodge · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 1:34 pm

Thanks Deb for your info. As I said I am a real novice so don't know anyone else in the area involved with chooks but I will definately see if I can find someone. I will even use a vet if they would do it.

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Country Lodge, try Beaudesert Poultry Club Secretary: Mr John Lingard. Phone 07 3800 5686. He may not do them himself but should know someone in your area who will.

Let us know if that doesn't work out.

Thanks
P.A

County Lodge · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:20 pm

Thank you very much for the info. I will ask. Then I will have to find some more silkie's.

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:20 pm

I think it's equal those that do vacinate and those that don't, I found it very hard to buy some bantams that were vacinated until I tracked down a poultry club, then I found a few breeders. I think that would be your best bet and if you can't buy any, then get a club member to do any that you buy.

Good luck :-D

Jeff

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:02 pm

Hi, Every one will be pleased to know I found some beautiful silkies about 10weeks old not very far from me at North Maclean Qld. They have been vaccinated. I contacted Beaudesert Poultry Club and gots lots of info but I found Beenleigh Poultry Club very helpful. I now have a name and phone number for a guy who has a hatchery and vacs every Monday and I can take my chicks up there to have them vaccinated. Maria and Neil Christie ghave been so helpful. I found them in my travels through the land of chooks. Thank you Debbie for all your help. I love you Lavender penkin rooster and now really would like one like him. I think I will move Brutus on to a new home. He is a beautiful boy but I think I need new blood as I would like to keep some of his girls. Does anyone know where I can get Lavender pekins in SE Qld :-D

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:19 pm

Hi County Lodge,

Glad you found some chicks - what colours did you get?

Not sure about QLD, but there is a breeder by the name of Steven Cox in Lismore who breeds lavender pekins (that's who bred mine!).

If you are interested I can PM you his contact details.

Regards,
Deb :-D

County Lodge · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:51 am

HI Debbie, I got 2 white and 1 black girls. They are really sweet. I would like the details of your breeder in Lismore. If I can talk my husband into coming for a drive with me after the school hols I might ring him and take a drive. :lol:

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:15 pm

I bought 3 silkies from a lady yesterday - unvaccinated, I assume (stupid me, after my earlier posts) - and she put another, younger one in the box just before I left and said "you can have that one". It looked fine, and had 5 proper toes (which 2 of the others didn't), but tonight I found it dead in the pen I have them isolated in.

I don't think it was Marek's, but maybe cocci. It did look a little off-colour last night, just not as active as the other older ones, so I made sure they had a heat lamp (it's a bit cool at night here) and put some Baycox in their water just in case. Obviously didn't work. I am going to direct-dose the remaining birds with Baycox to try to make sure they don't get it too.

Deb

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