Vaccination schedule for Layers
Effective and
proper vaccination programme in poultry is necessary to prevent mortality and losses from
many poultry diseases. Vaccination programmes are available against the major poultry
diseases viz. Ranikhet, Marek’s disease and Fowl pox. All birds reared on farm either
for stock or for sale to the public must be properly vaccinated.
The schedule of
vaccination should be as follows:
F
Vaccine for Ranikhet 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.
Pigeon
Pox Vaccine can be administered if available at approximately 2 weeks of age. Remove a
small patch of feathers from the thigh of the chick and apply vaccine to the bare skin.
Approximately 10 to 14 days after the vaccination a small scab will indicate that the
vaccine has taken effect. Ten birds are to be checked to make certain of the take. Care
must be taken to observe outbreaks of pecking and cannibalism at this time.
Ranikhet
disease and Fowl Pox Vaccination: - This vaccination must be given when birds reach 6
weeks of age. Fowl Pox and RD vaccine are suspended in 50% glycerine saline solution and
the birds inoculated by the webstick method in the web of the wing. An instrument with two
needles is to be used. Six to ten days after the RD-FP vaccination, check ten chicks for a
take. Reactors to RD vaccine will show the symptoms of Ranikhet Disease. A Fowl pox take
is indicated by two small scabs at the puncture points. If scabs are not present,
revaccinate with fresh vaccine.
It is essential
that all four vaccinations be 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.
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
schedule
The vaccination
schedule is a general guide. Each farm and area will require some changes in the schedule.
S. N. |
Name
of the vaccine |
Age
of birds |
Route
of inoculation |
1 |
Marek's
vaccine (In hatchery) |
1
day |
Intramascular
|
2 |
La
Sota or F vaccine Ranikhet |
3
to 7 days |
Intranasal
|
3 |
Infectious
Bronchitis (1st dose) |
2
to 3 weeks |
Eye
drops |
4 |
La
Sota Ranikhet |
5
to 6 weeks |
Drinking
water |
5 |
Fowl
Pox (1st dose) |
7
to 8 weeks |
Wing
Web |
6 |
R2B
Ranikhet |
9
to 10 weeks |
Sub
cut or Intramascular |
7 |
Infectious
Bronchitis (2nd dose) |
16
weeks |
Eye
drop or drinking water |
8 |
Fowl
Pox (2nd dose) |
18
weeks |
Skin
Scarification |
9 |
La
Sota Ranikhet (If necessary) |
20
weeks |
Drinking
water |
10 |
La
Sota Ranikhet (If necessary) |
40
weeks |
Drinking
water |
IBD |
1 |
Mildly
invasive vaccine |
0
to 3 days |
Drinking
water |
2 |
Intermediately
invasive vaccine |
15th
day |
Drinking
water |
3 |
Intermediately
invasive vaccine |
28
to 30th day |
Drinking
water |
It is necessary to keep records on date of vaccination and on vaccines used
including type, brand, serial number, date of purchase and date of use of vaccine. |
