Merek's Vaccination? - Page 4

Yes you do. That is very important

Make sure they do not touch soil. Keep them in a brooder. After the 14 days you vaccinate them on the back of the neck . Check out the internet, I saw a video on how to do it, I believe youtube . I will get the vaccine and my avian vet will do the injections for me, thanks god :)

rosegal, what you probably did was order from someone who had Mareks in their flock and didn't cull the carriers. This is very common when folks refuse to euthanize birds who should be put down, from CRD, Coryza, etc, etc. They pass on their problems to other unsuspecting people. I've never vaccinated for anything and do not plan to vaccinate in the future. The vaccine does not actually prevent birds from contracting Mareks, only prevents the tumors associated with it, as I understand the vaccine. It can be a devastating disease for a flock. If mine got it, I'm afraid I'd not want chickens anymore. I don't want a flock that has to be coddled, that I cannot sell chicks from, etc, etc. It would be awful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadow rabbit10 

I heard that you vaccinate right away and that thy can go right in  the brooder after vaccinating?

The brooder yes but not Soil. That's what my Vet said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by speckledhen 

rosegal, what you probably did was order from someone who had Mareks in their flock and didn't cull the carriers. This is very common when folks refuse to euthanize birds who should be put down, from CRD, Coryza, etc, etc. They pass on their problems to other unsuspecting people. I've never vaccinated for anything and do not plan to vaccinate in the future. The vaccine does not actually prevent birds from contracting Mareks, only prevents the tumors associated with it, as I understand the vaccine. It can be a devastating disease for a flock. If mine got it, I'm afraid I'd not want chickens anymore. I don't want a flock that has to be coddled, that I cannot sell chicks from, etc, etc. It would be awful.

 I too never vaccinated. I am into all organic gardening ect. I asked the Avian Vet what in the world did I do wrong ? I keep the hens super clean, feed them organic crumbles, treats, yoghurt ect. She said that here in CA it seems to be really bad right now. I asked her if they got that from the Person/Breeder I got the Hens  from and NO that is not how they got Mareks. I asked her twice because I was about to kill the guy who sold them to me. And yes you are right its awful :( 

I didn't want to inject in the back of the neck...too many nerves and spine back there to accidentally puncture if the chick would jump.  So, I injected into the thigh...subq...that's just under the skin and that worked much better for me.  Yes, you must pinch the skin up and make a little tent.  Inject into the tent.  If you don't pinch the skin, you could inject too deep.  You also want to have a moist papertowel that you can spread the fuzz so that you can see what you are doing.  Moisten the fuzz so that you can spread it out of the way and it stays there.

Not meaning to be disrespectful but I would not wait until they are 14 days old.  You bring stuff into the house all the time on your feet, hair and clothes.  I vaccinated my hatched bantams at 1 day old and didn't have any that had any side effects.  Ideal hatchery vaccinates at 1 day old.  Waiting is just taking the chance that they will be infected before they are vaccinated.  Not a chance I want to take.

I use a 25 gauge needle...that's plenty big enough for those small thighs. 

Speckledhen...unfortunately, once Marek's hits, whether you chose to euthanize or not, your flock will be carriers.  It won't matter how fast you euthanize...symptoms might not appear for 6 - 8 weeks and the virus has been spread through dander for all that time.  I don't have a problem with people trying to cure their birds and not just killing them..I have a problem with people who know that their birds are carriers and still sell them to others knowing that they are spreading disease!!  No way would I buy chicks from someone who doesn't vaccinate.  My trust in others is gone...I trusted the people I purchased chicks from and where did it get me????  Marek's and the loss of everything I wanted out of my chickens...never again!