Unforunatly the marek virus attacks the body the same way HIV does in humans. Once you understand that you must realize that any vaccinating after they have been exposed is futile as the very cells that are needed to react to the vaccine has already been compromised by the Mareks. Chicks only respond to the vaccine in the first three weeks of life. And only if they have not been exposed already. By five weeks old they virus has already done most of its damage to the immune system of the chick. Which then leaves them open to any other diseases on your property. I brought in a hen who had marek. My others caught it and then could not fight off a minor respiratory bug. I lost all my younger birds. The rest that still showed the respiratory issues got culled. I have just seven birds left that showed no sickness. I am waiting for hatching eggs then I have to cull them too and clean before the eggs hatch. My chicks will be vaccinated from now on.
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