How best to add to my small Flock

[deedledumpling1]

I have 4 hens and one Rooster which I raised from day old chicks from My Pet Chicken last October. I want to add some blue egg layers to my flock, and maybe another Lavender Orpington who is my little Love. I have 2 Easter Eggers who lay pale green eggs so carry the blue gene, and my Rooster is a gorgeous BS Ameraucana! I have been planning on hatching some fertilzed eggs from my Easter Eggers to hopefully get some blue egg layers since my Rooster carries the Blue gene and the Blue gene is dominant. And perhaps also a couple of my fertilized Lavender Orpington's eggs as well. HERE'S MY QUESTION/CONCERN::

I had my chicks vaccinated by My Pet Chicken for Mareks disease. So was thinking I probably need to do this with any new chicks I raise. But have now read all these things about not allowing my new chicks with my current flock for at least 3 months because they might get infected due to the new vaccinated chicks. But also the same would be true if I bought new chicks which were vaccinated by My Pet Chicken apparently. Realizing that they were 12 weeks old when I took them out to the coop (it was Dec.), but had been planning on assimilating them sooner with my current flock because of the warmer weather they would be raised in this Spring/Summer.

Or should I give up the whole "chick" idea and purchase Pullets that have been vaccinated and be able to assimilate them immediately without worrying about my flock being infected from recently vaccinated chicks???

Main point here is I don't want to lose any of my original 5 due to something stupid and not having all the facts. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO ADD BLUE EGG LAYERS TO MY LITTLE FLOCK??

THANKS IN ADVANCE, I KNOW THIS IS LONG BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY ORIGINAL BABIES!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wasn't aware that you needed to keep newly vaccinated chicks away from old vaccinated ones. Since your old ones are vaccinated I don't see the problem. You will probably brood them away from the flock the first month or two? Than integrate? Definitely get vaccinated chicks. I would go for it, but I don't vaccinate, so hopefully someone more familiar with that part will add their opinions.

 

[imnukensc]

I can't answer your question specifically since I've never bought chicks that were vaccinated, but if I were you this is the way I'd go about adding to my flock assuming your LO goes broody. I'd just slip a couple EE eggs under her and let her do all the work of incubating, raising, and integrating the new chicks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I can't answer your question specifically since I've never bought chicks that were vaccinated, but if I were you this is the way I'd go about adding to my flock assuming your LO goes broody. I'd just slip a couple EE eggs under her and let her do all the work of incubating, raising, and integrating the new chicks.

But than chicks wouldn't be vaccinated, which I read is bad. Sure folks can vaccinate themselves but it's not necessarily easy or cheap to do so from my understanding.

Vaccinated birds will shed the virus while not coming down with the disease. It's the main reason I choose to not vaccinate.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chicks from a reputable source should not be a biosecurity concern, so I would not worry about quarantine regardless if they're vaccinated.

 

[deedledumpling1]

Thank you all for the responses! Don't know if my Lav Orpington will go broody this year or not. She is just over a year old now. I tried putting wooden eggs in, and even leaving their own eggs in nest last summer and no one went broody. Maybe first summer is asking too much of these newbies to go broody. I am seriously thinking of getting a few Lavender Ameraucana chicks (vaccinated), and raising them in the house like I did the originals. Then at 12 weeks integrate them when all should be safe and no shedding of the virus after 3 mos (or so resources say). And yes if any of mine do ever go broody I guess I will have this whole issue to deal with again Ha. They keep us on our toes these cuties!! Thank you so much for your feedback. I love this site!