Broiler chickens and laying chickens are two types of chickens that are often raised by farmers to produce meat and eggs. These two types of chicken have differences, one of which is in terms of administering vaccines.
Vaccination in chickens helps stimulate the immune system to form antibodies. So it can protect chickens from attacks by viruses, bacteria or certain parasites that can cause disease.
However, not all types of vaccines are suitable for all types of chickens. There are several differences between vaccines for broiler chickens and laying chickens that Friends of Champion need to know, including:
1. Type of vaccine used
The type of vaccine used for broiler chickens and laying chickens differs depending on the type of disease to be prevented.
Broiler chickens usually need vaccines to prevent diseases related to the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems, such as Newcastle Disease (ND), Infectious Bronchitis (IB), Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), and Avian Influenza (AI).
Meanwhile, laying hens also need vaccines to prevent the same disease, but there are several additional vaccines that are related to egg quality and quantity, such as Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS), Infectious Coryza (IC), and Fowl Pox (FP).
2. Vaccination method
The vaccination methods used for broiler chickens and laying chickens also differ depending on the type of vaccine and the condition of the chicken. There are several commonly used vaccination methods, namely:
- Drinking water
This method is carried out by mixing the vaccine into clean, chlorine-free drinking water. The chickens are then given the water to drink according to the recommended dosage.
This method is suitable for live or live vaccines attenuated, such as ND, IB, and IBD vaccines. The advantage of using this method is that it is easy, cheap, and can be used for many chickens at once.
But, unfortunately this method also has weaknesses, such as the difficulty of controlling the amount of vaccine taken by each chicken, the possibility of water contamination, and the influence of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.
- Eye drops
Vaccination using this method is carried out by dripping the vaccine into the chicken's eyes using a pipette or special tool. Usually used for live vaccines or attenuated, such as ND and IB vaccines.
The advantage of this method is that it is effective, fast, and can provide local and systemic immunity. However, this vaccination requires skilled personnel, takes a long time, and can cause irritation to the chicken's eyes.
- Spray
This method is carried out by spraying the vaccine into the air using a special sprayer. The chicken then inhales the vaccine through the respiratory tract. Suitable for use with live or live vaccines attenuated, such as ND and IB vaccines.
The advantages of this method are that it is effective, fast, and can be used by many chickens at once. However, this method also has disadvantages, such as requiring sterile equipment, requiring good ventilation, and can cause stress to the chickens.
- Inject
Next is the injection method, the method is to inject the vaccine into the muscle or under the skin of the chicken using a needle and syringe. Usually suitable for inactivated or inactivated vaccines inactivated, such as ND, IB, EDS and AI vaccines.
This method is more effective, accurate, and can provide systemic immunity. But, Champion Friends must be skilled at injecting chickens, OK? Apart from that, it takes a long time and can cause injury or infection at the injection site.
- Wing
Finally, there is the wing method, which involves piercing the chicken's wing with a special tool that has been dipped in vaccine. This method is suitable for live or live vaccines attenuated, such as FP and AE vaccines.
The advantages of this method are that it is easy, cheap, and can be used by many chickens at once. However, there are several weaknesses that Champion Friends need to know, such as the difficulty of controlling the vaccine dose given, the possibility of equipment contamination, and the influence of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.
3. Vaccination schedule
The vaccination schedule for broiler chickens and laying chickens also differs depending on the age and production period of the chicken.
Broiler chickens have a shorter life span than laying chickens, which is around 30-45 days. Meanwhile, laying hens have a longer life span, which is around 18-24 months.
Therefore, vaccinations for broiler chickens are carried out more quickly and less frequently than for laying chickens. The following is an example of a broiler chicken vaccination schedule suggested by Agrozine:
| Chicken Age | Vaccine Type | Method of Administration |
| 1 day | ND-IB | Drinking water |
| 7 days | IBD | Drinking water |
| 14 days | ND-IB | Drinking water |
| 21 days | IBD | Drinking water |
| 28 days | ND-IB | Drinking water |
| 35 days | ND | Eye Drops |
Meanwhile, an example of a vaccination schedule for laying hens is as follows:
| Chicken Age | Vaccine Type | Method of Administration |
| 1 day | IBD | Drinking water |
| 4 days | ND | Drinking water |
| 7 days | IB | Drinking water |
| 11 days | IBD | Drinking water |
| 21 days | IBD | Drinking water |
| 21-28 days | ND | Drinking water |
| 30 days | IB | Drinking water |
| 8 weeks | ND | Eye drops |
| 18 weeks | ND, IB, EDS | Inject |
| 32-34 weeks | A.I | Inject |
| 47-49 weeks | A.I | Inject |
| Once every 3-4 months | ND, IB | Injections or eye drops |
So, the method of administering vaccines for each type of chicken is different, Champion Friends. Those are the 3 differences in how to vaccinate broiler chickens and laying chickens.
There is no need to be confused about finding a vaccine that is suitable for your chickens, because Juara Agro Niaga provides various types of vaccines. Get the product here, yeah.
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Reference:
1. How to Vaccinate Chickens. URL: https://id.wikihow.com/Memvaksinasi-Ayam (accessed 11/22/2023)
2. 5 Ways to Give Vaccines to Chickens that Farmers Must Know. URL: https://budidayaternak.id/cara-memberikan-vaksin-pada-ayam/ (accessed 11/22/2023)
3. Types and Vaccination Schedule for Broiler Chickens. URL: https://agrotek.id/hewan/vaksinasi-ayam-broiler/ (accessed 11/22/2023)
4. Laying Hen Vaccines And Vaccine Schedule. URL: https://peternakrakyat.com/vaksin-ayam-petelur/ (accessed 11/22/2023)