The health of poultry birds is maintained through routine medication and vaccination. Poultry birds are prone to several diseases; to maintain a healthy flock, it is best to prevent these diseases through vaccination. One of the important vaccines that must be administered to chickens at different ages is the Lasota Vaccine.

The Lasota vaccine is used to prevent Newcastle Disease in poultry birds such as Pullets, broilers, cockerels, Noilers, quails, and even turkeys. The Lasota vaccine is commonly administered through drinking water, eye drops, and nasal drops. Lasota vaccine is given to chickens when they are between 3 weeks, 8 weeks, 18 weeks, and once every 2 months for laying birds.

In this guide, we shall discuss three methods of administering the Lasota vaccine and the tips to ensure all your birds fully take in the vaccine as well as post-vaccination tips and precautions.

Why Give Lasota Vaccine to Chickens?

Lasota vaccine is given to poultry birds to prevent Newcastle disease, a viral poultry disease affecting poultry birds at several ages. Newcastle disease is one of the deadliest poultry diseases, this is why the Lasota vaccine has the longest administration period among other poultry vaccines.

Newcastle disease affects both chickens and laying birds; the signs in chickens are:

• Respiratory distress, such as coughing and sneezing
• Rhythmic movement or twisting of the neck
• Lack of appetite
• Nasal discharge
• The birds drone together, keep their heads on the ground, when on a deep litter system.
• The birds make a screeching sound.
• The bird has diarrhea or watery poo

Laying birds affected by Newcastle disease will show these signs:

• Lack of appetite.
• The layers make a screeching sound.
• The layers produce peewee (very small) eggs and shell-less eggs.
• When it becomes severe and chronic, the birds turn their head and drop greenish feces.
• Swelling of the tissues of the head.

Overall, Newcastle disease causes a lot of economic damage to the poultry business. The best way to prevent Newcastle disease in poultry is to vaccinate by administering the Lasota vaccine at the required period. The schedule of the Lasota vaccine for chickens is spread through their growth phases, which is to ensure the birds are well protected from this virus.

Read more: Vaccination Chart for Layers and How To Administer Vaccines

Administering Lasota Vaccine through the Drinking Water Method (Most Common)

The most common method of administering the Lasota vaccine is orally through drinking water. This method is best for large flocks and older birds. To ensure effective Lasota vaccination through drinking water, follow these steps:

Step 1: Withdraw water from the flock

You need to starve your birds to increase their thirst for water. Remove the drinking water for about 2-3 hours before vaccination. Some farmers often withdraw the drinking water overnight to further increase thirst. Through this thirst inducement, the birds will drink the lasota vaccine and you can be sure of effective vaccination.

Step 2. Dilute the Lasota Vaccine

Lasota vaccine is available in different doses as a subject to the number of birds to be vaccinated. Irrespective of the number of birds you want to vaccinate, mix the vaccine vial in a quantity of water that the birds will drink within 2 hours. Mix Lasota vaccine and other vaccines with non-chlorinated water. Also, mix the vaccine with a stabilizer, usually skimmed powdered milk, at 2g per liter of water.

Step 3: Distribute the Water

Portion the vaccine solution into different drinkers, and use multiple drinkers to allow the birds to have equal access to the solution. Lastly, ensure all birds drink the solution within 1-2 hours.

Step 4: Dispose of Leftover Vaccine

After 2 hours, discard all the vaccine leftovers, rinse the drinker thoroughly, and serve your birds fresh water.

Administering Lasota Vaccine Through Eye or Nasal Drops

This is probably the best method of administering Lasota vaccine, however, it is only effective for a small number of birds. Vaccinating over 1000 birds through this method is tedious and will eat up quality time. Birds less than 500 can effectively be vaccinated through this method. The Lasota vaccine will come with a dropper for the administration.

Steps:

1. Hold the bird firmly, putting out the head and face prominently
2. Use a dropper to suck a portion of the vaccine.
3. Administer one drop of the Lasota vaccine directly into one eye or nostril.
4. Don’t lose grip of the bird and allow the bird to absorb the vaccine before release.
5. You see this method gives precision and assurance of the vaccine administration.

Administering Lasota Vaccine Through the Spray Method

Administering Lasota vaccine to poultry birds through spray is another effective method of vaccine administration for large flocks, although it is not a common practice. The Lasota vaccine is applied using a mist sprayer for better coverage.

Steps:

1. Dilute the vaccine with distilled water following the manufacturer’s recommendation
2. Pour the vaccine solution into a fine mist sprayer
3. Close the pen window and other outlets and spray the vaccine solution over the birds at a close range.
4. After spraying, ensure the birds inhale the mist properly before opening the doors, windows, and other outlets.

Administering Lasota vaccine through mist spraying is not as effective as the aforementioned methods; the possibility of some birds not receiving the vaccine is very high.

Precautions for Lasota Vaccine Administration

• Do not administer Lasota vaccine to sick birds; only healthy birds are given vaccines.
• Store Lasota vaccine at a temperature below  8⁰C before usage.
• Give anti-stress 3 days before and after administering the Lasota vaccine.
• Administer Lasota vaccine to birds during the cooler part of the day, preferably in the morning.
• Clean the cleaner thoroughly before using it to serve the birds fresh water.
• Ensure you adhere to the recommended age of administering Lasota vaccine to birds.

Read more: 8 Possible Causes Of Vaccine Failure In Chickens

Lastly, you need to ensure your chickens effectively drink the vaccine; this way you can be sure of the prevention of the disease as the birds grow. How you administer Lasota vaccine will determine whether or not the birds will effectively utilize it.