can adult chickens be vaccinated for marek's?

[rockinpaints]

PS......Just wanted to add I am in no way suggesting you use any vaccine for 'off label' use like dividing Mareks vaccine because leadwolf1 is absolutely correct with everything they said. Just saying what I do with my own chickies.

 

[Arielle]

Just wanted to correct one thing in the post that I read earlier. Marek's vaccine can not cause the disease or produce carriers as it is made from Turkey Marek's virus so no need to worry about that. Probably the vet was saying the vaccinated chicks would still be able to get the virus for 10-14 days after vaccinating, to protect them from exposure for that long.

Another thing that I do when I can is raise a baby turkey in with a clutch of baby chicks as they can pass on marek's immunities to the chickies. However I still vaccinate....just double protection!

As far as dividing the vaccine, I do that as well with my own chicks. I cut the cake in quarters (a little difficult) and you are correct there is no way to be sure the exact weight. However I give a little more than they need to each chick to cover any under measuring as I will throw out most of it anyway. Studies have been done with doubling the dose, it does not increase the efficacy but it will not hurt the chicks, if you are dividing the vaccine it is better to be safe than sorry.

The vaccine is only 75 to 90% effective, so if you are vaccinating 100 chicks chances are you are going to see it in some of the chicks. For that reason we also give a second vaccine before we put them outside in the "big kids" area (there is no proof that a second vaccine works any better either just my own preference with my own chicks). Most chickens are naturally immune by the time they are 5 months if they are not exposed and die first. In Canada it is one of the vaccines that is required for selling baby chicks.

There are also some breeds that are very resistant to Mareks and there are some breeds (Silkies.....) that are VERY susceptible to it.

Good luck every one!!

When using live vaccine, animals must be quarentined for 14 days. THis is standard procedure. I have encounterd this same procedure with vaccinating horses for EVA. THe likelyhodd of transmission is small, however this is the procedure that is written on the instructions. Edited for clarity: my understanding is that this is to protect the vaccinated animal from exposure until the vaccine has had the 14-21 days to produce the anitbodies.

As with most vaccines, this organism is an altered microbe and is NOT exactly the same as the microbe that causes the diseased state.

The instructions clearly state a 14 day isolation.

 

[leadwolf1]

I have read many Marek's vaccine instructions..none have said to quarantine for 14 days. The vaccine available is made from a Turkey Marek's virus. It CANNOT, in no way, cause Chicken Marek's. It is impossible.

When using live vaccine, animals must be quarentined for 14 days. THis is standard procedure. I have encounterd this same procedure with vaccinating horses for EVA. THe likelyhodd of transmission is small, however this is the procedure that is written on the instructions.

As with most vaccines, this organism is an altered microbe and is NOT exactly the same as the microbe that causes the diseased state.

The instructions clearly state a 14 day isolation.

 

[leadwolf1]

I am finding in my flock that no age group is immune. I'm having more losses at 13 - 15 months then in birds that are much younger. Stress is a huge factor in whether Marek's will rear its ugly head. Severe heat, molting, etc...things that cannot be controlled. are causing havoc in my flock.

 

[Arielle]

May I ask how you are planning on separating the vaccine? Without a really good scale, how do you know that you are not putting too much into one vaccine mix and not enough into the next. The Marek's vaccine is very delicate. Unless properly administered, it is worthless. There just isn't anyway to split that tiny bit of dried vaccine into equal portions. I wouldn't even try. Not only that but, once you start playing with it, it is no longer sterile and other 'things' can jump in there that you will then inject into your chickens. As for the vaccine, every one that I have ever used has a use within time of 1 hour...whether in an ice bath or, not. Please make sure to read the directions on your vial before you begin. If given incorrectly, you may as well not do it.

I don't want to sound harsh, I just don't want people thinking that it is something easy that they can do. It isn't easy at all to correctly separate the vaccine and do it correctly. After as many birds as I've lost, it just wouldn't be worth the risk for me.
Quote: Read the instructions provided by Dr Brown! That is how I plan to do it. And apply a little thought.

I've worked in a lab-- and dividing this vaccine isn't rocket science. This is how I plan to do this. Open the vial of dried powder. Carefully dump it in on to waxed paper. Use a razor to divide it into equal portions--think of how you see drugs divided in the movies!! Divide it into approximately four even piles. THen remove one fourth of the diluent broth, and mix one pile of powder with 50cc of diluent in a baby food jar.

This is NOT laboratory chemistry. This is vacinating. Follow the instructions: if you cannot use the vaccine with in 1 hour then put it in a cold water bath, and then use it with in2-2.5 hours.

Dr Brown is an avian vet--call him, talk to him. Vaccinations are easy. All it takes is a little practice. I've been doing my own pets and livestock for 20 years.

There is a risk to every thing we do. Get educated and weigh the risks for yourself. My animals are faced with all kinds of organisms everyday--goodness knows how much bateria they eat picking their food up off the ground.

I have NOT advocated that every one should do this; I stated addtional information for those that are interested in vaccinating their own bird: where to find an avian specialist with the detailed information posted on his website.

 

[leadwolf1]

Read the instructions provided by Dr Brown! That is how I plan to do it. And apply a little thought.

I've worked in a lab-- and dividing this vaccine isn't rocket science. This is how I plan to do this. Open the vial of dried powder. Carefully dump it in on to waxed paper. Use a razor to divide it into equal portions--think of how you see drugs divided in the movies!! Divide it into approximately four even piles. THen remove one fourth of the diluent broth, and mix one pile of powder with 50cc of diluent in a baby food jar.

This is NOT laboratory chemistry. This is vacinating. Follow the instructions: if you cannot use the vaccine with in 1 hour then put it in a cold water bath, and then use it with in2-2.5 hours.

Dr Brown is an avian vet--call him, talk to him. Vaccinations are easy. All it takes is a little practice. I've been doing my own pets and livestock for 20 years.

There is a risk to every thing we do. Get educated and weigh the risks for yourself. My animals are faced with all kinds of organisms everyday--goodness knows how much bateria they eat picking their food up off the ground.

I have NOT advocated that every one should do this; I stated addtional information for those that are interested in vaccinating their own bird: where to find an avian vet with the detailed information posted on his website.

Excuse me! Get educated? I am very educated thank you. I have worked in a research environment for over 25 years. I have a degree in Biology. I've been working with vaccinating and research that goes into those vaccines for that long.

Do what you may but, it is laboratory chemistry. I don't care what happens in movies...do you watch the news? How many people OD on their little piles of drugs that they separate with a razor blade?

I've lost 40+ chickens to Marek's in the last year...I have discounted many, many things that poultry specialists have told me. I've experienced it with my own eyes...not in a lab setting that is controlled. This is real life. I'm not about to take the risk of a 'maybe I did it right'. The Marek's vaccine is very unstable in the best circumstances. It fails often from misuse.

Once you pour it out on your table, you have now contaminated it. That's another risk I don't plan to take. Marek's is in the air, dander goes everywhere...while you are bent over separating your piles, Chicken Marek's could be mixing with your vaccine.

I was merely giving the darker side of what you are doing so that others could be informed of the risks presented in doing so.

I was in no way trying to attack what you said, just that there are other factors to consider.

 

[leadwolf1]

One other point...

Every vial of vaccine that I have purchased explicitely says to use within an HOUR. Whether or not, you are putting it in an ice bath. I'm sticking to the instructions provided with the particular vaccine that I purchase. With the three batches of vaccine that I purchased within the last year all instructions stated to use within 1 hour of reconstitution.

 

[rockinpaints]

Read the instructions provided by Dr Brown! That is how I plan to do it. And apply a little thought.

I've worked in a lab-- and dividing this vaccine isn't rocket science. This is how I plan to do this. Open the vial of dried powder. Carefully dump it in on to waxed paper. Use a razor to divide it into equal portions--think of how you see drugs divided in the movies!! Divide it into approximately four even piles. THen remove one fourth of the diluent broth, and mix one pile of powder with 50cc of diluent in a baby food jar.

This is NOT laboratory chemistry. This is vacinating. Follow the instructions: if you cannot use the vaccine with in 1 hour then put it in a cold water bath, and then use it with in2-2.5 hours.

Dr Brown is an avian vet--call him, talk to him. Vaccinations are easy. All it takes is a little practice. I've been doing my own pets and livestock for 20 years.

There is a risk to every thing we do. Get educated and weigh the risks for yourself. My animals are faced with all kinds of organisms everyday--goodness knows how much bateria they eat picking their food up off the ground.

I have NOT advocated that every one should do this; I stated addtional information for those that are interested in vaccinating their own bird: where to find an avian vet with the detailed information posted on his website.

For inquirey minds.......Regardless to opinions, even by medical professionals, these are the actual instructions. Click on each and it will enlarge so it can be read.

Just for informational purposes.

 

[leadwolf1]

Rockinpaints, thank you for posting!

 

[rockinpaints]

You are welcome! You all have some really good valid points and information. I happened on this forum by accident, nice to meet you all,

thanks for all the info and have a wonderful weekend!