Marek's Vaccination

[myfester]

I'm hoping this thread is still active.

I have a mix of vaccinated hens and roosters. My vaccinated ones were from the feed store, the unvaccinated were born here and I wasn't prepared with the vaccine, so they are grown up and non-vaccinated.

Now, my question is...I have a new batch that will be born soon (maybe). Usually I let mama raise them. If mama was vaccinated, can I quarentine mama with her newly vaccinated babies? I do I have to take them away from her for 10 days? That is going to freak her out big time. I'll need to know soon so I can purchase the vaccine before the eggs hatch.

Thanks!
Laura

 

[seminolewind]

If your chicken eggs are hatched by your chickens, it should be fine, chicks get some kind of immunity from a mother that's been exposed. If the mom is vaccinated or unvaccinated , it doesn't matter. It's also a little hard to take chicks from mom and vaccinate and put back , because they've already been exposed prior to the vaccine.

Your own eggs hatched should be fine.

The biggest problem with unvaccinated chickens is that if you bring an exposed chicken home, that chicken can expose your whole flock, and you may lose some. So to protect your unvaccinated chickens from being exposed, buy only vaccinated day old hatchery chicks, or incubate , vaccinate and quarantine chicks you get in the mail, or hatch your own hen's eggs . I do all that. My flock was exposed. I brought a 3 month old pullet home a few years ago.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

I'm hoping this thread is still active.

I have a mix of vaccinated hens and roosters. My vaccinated ones were from the feed store, the unvaccinated were born here and I wasn't prepared with the vaccine, so they are grown up and non-vaccinated.

Now, my question is...I have a new batch that will be born soon (maybe). Usually I let mama raise them. If mama was vaccinated, can I quarentine mama with her newly vaccinated babies? I do I have to take them away from her for 10 days? That is going to freak her out big time. I'll need to know soon so I can purchase the vaccine before the eggs hatch.

Thanks!
Laura

I recommend vaccinating the chicks and putting them back in under momma. Also do Fowl Pox, New Castle, and Infectious Bronchitis. Do the entire flock for the last 3 at the appropriate time for the chicks. That will put you on track for a fully vaccinated flock. Per Dr Waters, head of the Illinois Animal Agriculture Department, the chicks will get some resistance to disease from their vaccinated mothers through the egg but true vaccinations are always preferred.
Denise
Paradise Found

 

[seminolewind]

If they hatch under mom, it's too late. The idea is to vaccinate and quarantine them from being exposed, like hatching in an incubator. It's kind of like a race between what's going to expose them first?- the real virus, or a harmless exposure by vaccine.

The chicks I had laid and hatched by my own flock were resistant. They are all grown ups now, 1 year+.

I don't know about the other vaccines for all those other illnesses. I've never had to deal with anything but Marek's.

 

[jen.bolduc]

i was wondering what happens if when you inject the vaccine some goes into the muscle instead of directly under the skin? ive seen alot of post about putting it under the skin so i was wondering if anything bad happens because chickens can be kind of squirmy and a slip of the hand might cause some to go in a little bit to far

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

i was wondering what happens if when you inject the vaccine some goes into the muscle instead of directly under the skin? ive seen alot of post about putting it under the skin so i was wondering if anything bad happens because chickens can be kind of squirmy and a slip of the hand might cause some to go in a little bit to far

I think you're borrowing trouble from tomorrow. The vaccination is not difficult. First prepare everything you need within hand's reach and practice with your loaded siring delivering 1 dose into the sink to know how hard the plunger of your siring moves. Take your time and have an assistant hold the chick. That leaves you 2 hands free to wipe the alcohol soaked cotton ball on the back of the neck which flattens to almost invisible the fluff, then pull up a small pinch of skin with your off hand and slip the small needle into there. Gently press the plunger to deliver the correct amount of vaccine and you are done!
It's really no trouble at all and the peace of mind that you have protected your chicks

well, to quote a famous saying, is "priceless".

 

[emiliember]

PLEASE VACCINATE!!! I had chickens growing up for 10 years (in Michigan and Colorado) and never had an issue, so I didn't worry about vaccinating when I got back into chickens this year. Sadly, I have seen many of my chickens die of Marek's (and Newcastle). Marek's is a terrible disease, there is no reason not to vaccinate. The vaccine is pretty effective and only needs to be given ONCE in a lifetime (unlike Newcastle that needs to be given every few months). I won't let another chick hatch without vaccinating; otherwise you just watch them die or cull them since there is no cure.

 

[Steeler Chick]

I honestly don't think any of ours were vaxed, we bought two month old pullets and a handful of chicks last year. After combining the two (once the chicks were big enough), the chicks died one a week, save one chick and the two pullets, then the pullet started going paralyzed, and then the last chick. We have one pullet left at the end of last summer. So you could always not vax your first flock, see what happens. Since we are pretty sure it was marek's after the pullet's symptoms, we are vaxing this year (and I am anti vax in every other instance) If you choose not to just be prepared you may lose the flock, but just cause you don't doesn't mean you will. I totally understand where you are coming from, you want "natural" chicken/eggs, no hormones, antibiotics, medications etc, so give it a try and if they all die, you know for next time.

I had mine vaccinated for both Mareks and the coccidiosis and here is what Murray McMurray has to say about it.....

Marek's is a widespread disease affecting domestic chickens in all sections of the world. It is characterized by lesions affecting the nervous system, organs, and other tissues. Young chickens under 16 weeks of age are most susceptible. There is no treatment for Marek's once the birds are infected. Chicks must be vaccinatead as close to the time of hatch as possible for the vaccine to be effective. We vaccinate all of our own breeding stock and strongly feel that you should do the same. Vaccinating your birds for Marek's is another appropriate step in strong poultry management. Don't take any chances. Let us vaccinate your chicks prior to shipment of your order. Don't forget to choose vaccination as you go through the check out process.

What is Coccidiosis and how do I control the disease?
Keeping small poultry flocks healthy and productive requires skilled husbandry practices. We are now offering a coccidiosis vaccine to help you manage your flock. Coccidia are common protozoan parasites. They are present in almost all chicken yards and can lay dormant for years until chickens are introduced. Heavy infections of coccidia cause serious disease and may kill many chickens. Chickens of all ages can come down with coccidiosis, but 4- to 16-week-old chickens are most commonly affected. Wet litter, poor nutrition and concurrent diseases are the most common triggers of coccidiosis. We do vaccinations here at the hatchery, because it is best to vaccinate chicks at 1-3 days of age. A successful vaccination will provide long-lasting immunity.
PLEASE READ: To reduce the threat of coccidiosis you should either: 1) Have us vaccinate your birds and not use medicated feed. OR 2) Use a medicated feed containing a coccidiostat. ORGANIC GROWERS: Vaccinations are in compliance with the NOP/USDA organic standards. You should verify with your certifying agency before having us vaccinate your chicks.

I guess it is a personal preference but from what I have read there is no reason not to an then you don't have to feed the chickens medicated feed which I do not.

Good luck with your decision!

AmyT

 

[Keric]

I know this is an old thread, but oh well. Does anyone know how long the vaccine lasts in the bottle? It says it comes on ice and is good for 1000 birds. Will it keep for like a month? Or is it like a lifetime thing where I'd be able to use it for any bird I ever get for ever? Any help would be appreciated.

I recently had a hen die. I don't know what it was was the only symptom was incoordination. She had just started laying, so I'm wondering if it was Marek's or stress or what.

Thanks again...

 

[seminolewind]

Keric, the powder or tablet in the bottle , if you can divide it up, can be good to the expiration date. The diluent can also be kept, I would not go more than 6 months. But unmixed. Once you mix the vaccine into the diluent, you need to use it in 30 minutes, or, I've heard an hour , if kept on ice. Keep the vaccine and the diluent unopened in the fridge and you can go by the expiration dates.

I don't know whether your hen died of Marek's or not. But at the bottom of my posts, there are links to some good articles about Marek's.