HATCHERY VACCINATION 2.7 Gel Vaccination in the Hatchery Superabsorbent hydrogels are materials that can absorb large quantities of water and retain their shape. Any oral vaccine, competitive exclusion (CE) products, and some coccidiosis vaccines can be administered using a gel format. When dyed, the gel drop allows visual assessment for vaccinators and promotes chick consumption by preening other hatch mates. The use of a dye in the vaccine also allows visual confirmation of consumption. Gel vaccines offer a few advantages over liquid spray vaccines. Gel holds the dense particles like oocysts in suspension more effectively than liquids.
Sprays tend to drift in the air, while gel droplets are heavier and less likely to float, reducing waste. Gel applications are usually less stressful compared to spray vaccinations. Liquid sprays can startle and cool chicks rapidly. Important points for spraying respiratory vaccines in the hatchery: COBB VACCINATION MANAGEMENT GUIDE » Some vaccine gels require adding gel powder to the distilled water and some products are available as premade gels. The water or the premade gel should be cool or at room temperature with a temperature range of 13oC (55oF) to no warmer than 27oC (80oF).
» Before adding the vaccine, most gel products will require adding and mixing a dye (if not already dyed) or other additives such as a buffering agent with the gel. » Gel products are usually mixed with a hand held motored device using an attached mixing blade (similar to a portable drill with a paint or mortar mixing blade). » After the mixing of all additives, the vaccine and/or the CE oral products can be added and mixed together with the same hand held mixing device. » The mixed vaccine gel can be added to the gel application device to deliver to the chicks.
» As with any device, check the delivery application by running a few empty chick boxes with paper through the application device to evaluate the gel application pattern. » After vaccination chick boxes should be placed in a warm, draft-free area with bright lighting for at least 10 to 15 minutes to allow consumption by preening of the drops. With good lighting the chicks readily consume the vaccine in a few minutes. Begin visual assessment and recording of vaccine consumption soon after vaccinating. The gel drops are rapidly consumed and the dye staining the mouth may fade rapidly. Photos courtesy of Dr. Lбszly Kőrцsi, originally published in “Infectious bronchitis hatchery vaccination:
comparison between traditional spray administration and a newly developed gel delivery system in field conditions.” Veterinary Sciences 8.8 (2021): 145. 12