Poultry Vaccination Schedule in Kenya

Complete vaccination guide for broiler and layer chickens in Kenya, including Newcastle Disease, Gumboro, Fowl Pox, and Marek's Disease schedules.

Introduction

Poultry diseases are the biggest cause of losses in Kenya's poultry industry. Proper vaccination prevents most common diseases and protects your investment.

Broiler Vaccination Schedule (1-6 weeks)

Day	Vaccine	Disease	Method
Day 1	Marek's Disease Vaccine	Marek's Disease	Injection (hatchery)
Day 7	Newcastle (La Sota)	Newcastle Disease	Eye drop / drinking water
Day 10	Gumboro (IBD)	Infectious Bursal Disease	Drinking water
Day 14	Newcastle (La Sota) Booster	Newcastle Disease	Eye drop
Day 18	Gumboro Booster	IBD	Drinking water
Day 21	Newcastle (Clone 30)	Newcastle Disease	Eye drop
Day 28	Fowl Typhoid (optional)	Fowl Typhoid	Drinking water

Layer Vaccination Schedule (1-18 weeks)

Week	Vaccine	Disease	Method
Day 1	Marek's Disease	Marek's Disease	Injection (hatchery)
Week 1	Newcastle (La Sota)	Newcastle Disease	Eye drop
Week 2	Gumboro (IBD)	IBD	Drinking water
Week 3	Newcastle Booster	Newcastle Disease	Eye drop
Week 4	Gumboro Booster	IBD	Drinking water
Week 5	Newcastle (Clone 30)	Newcastle Disease	Eye drop
Week 8	Fowl Pox	Fowl Pox	Wing web stab
Week 10	Newcastle (Killed)	Newcastle Disease	Injection
Week 12	Fowl Cholera	Fowl Cholera	Injection
Week 16	Newcastle Booster	Newcastle Disease	Drinking water
Week 18	Newcastle (pre-lay)	Newcastle Disease	Injection

Newcastle Disease - Most Common Killer

Newcastle Disease (ND) kills thousands of chickens annually in Kenya.

Symptoms:

Sudden death (per-acute)
Gasping, coughing, sneezing
Twisted neck, paralysis
Greenish diarrhea
Drop in egg production

Prevention:

Follow vaccination schedule strictly
Never skip booster doses
Booster every 4-6 weeks for layers
Use cold chain for vaccines

Treatment: No treatment - prevention only via vaccination

Gumboro (IBD) - Suppresses Immunity

Gumboro destroys the immune system, making chickens vulnerable to other infections.

Symptoms:

Swollen, discolored bursa of Fabricius
Depression, ruffled feathers
Watery diarrhea
High mortality in 3-6 week chicks

Prevention:

Vaccinate at day 10 and day 18
Ensure birds drink all vaccine water (withhold water 2hrs before)

Biosecurity Practices

All-in-all-out management
Disinfect house before new flock
Control visitor access (footbaths, protective clothing)
Keep wild birds out - major disease vectors
Buy chicks from reputable hatcheries

Signs of Sick Birds

Ruffled feathers, hunched posture
Reduced feed and water intake
Drop in egg production
Respiratory distress (gasping, sneezing)
Unusual droppings (watery, green, or bloody)

Deworming (Layers and Growers)

Week 6 and Week 12: Levamisole or Piperazine in drinking water
Thereafter: every 3 months
Signs of worms: weight loss, pale comb, reduced production

Where to Buy Poultry Vaccines

KEVEVAPI: Produces Newcastle, Fowl Pox vaccines - kevevapi.or.ke
Agrovet shops: Stock imported vaccines (Intervet, Ceva, MSD)
Ensure cold chain maintained (2-8°C)
Check expiry date before use