Are my birds suitable for eating?

[ChocolateMouse]

I did actually think that, so thank you for clarifying. I always heard the vaccine was leaky, which meant that it shed particles of the virus as the bird lived, and basically infected the bird but kept it alive

Yeah, they're right.
The vaccine is made from a turkey version of Mareks virus, so they can't actually catch Mareks from it as there's no chicken Mareks in the vaccine.
What it means by leaky is that if a chicken gets the vaccine their immune response does not remove the virus, instead it prevents SYMPTOMS only. The chicken still HAS the virus, it still SHEDS the virus, it can still experience flare-ups (increased periods of infectious shedding) but it never actually expresses symptoms. But *only if it comes in contact with chicken Mareks*. If there's no Mareks there's no Mareks.

An example of a non leaky vaccine is Polio. When your body responds to polio post vaccination it actually destroys it. There's no trace of it left in your body. You cannot spread polio post exposure and it can't replicate in your body. Your body has no evidence of polio having been in your body except for your t-cell memory.
A leaky immune response means your body still produces and sheds the virus but you don't feel it despite still shedding it. Natural immunity to Mono is like this. Once your body has responded to the virus you're immune from symptoms forever but any shared drink, towel or kiss could spread it to the next person even though you're symptomless.
Except, ya know, like if Mono killed you 50-75% of the time. >_>

So a vaccinated chicken that never comes in contact with Mareks is safe to add to an unvaccinated flock. But there's no way to tell if that chicken secretly has the virus or not unless it's also exposed to other chickens with no vaccinations.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Yeah, they're right.
The vaccine is made from a turkey version of Mareks virus, so they can't actually catch Mareks from it as there's no chicken Mareks in the vaccine.
What it means by leaky is that if a chicken gets the vaccine their immune response does not remove the virus, instead it prevents SYMPTOMS only. The chicken still HAS the virus, it still SHEDS the virus, it can still experience flare-ups (increased periods of infectious shedding) but it never actually expresses symptoms. But *only if it comes in contact with chicken Mareks*. If there's no Mareks there's no Mareks.

An example of a non leaky vaccine is Polio. When your body responds to polio post vaccination it actually destroys it. There's no trace of it left in your body. You cannot spread polio post exposure and it can't replicate in your body. Your body has no evidence of polio having been in your body except for your t-cell memory.
A leaky immune response means your body still produces and sheds the virus but you don't feel it despite still shedding it. Natural immunity to Mono is like this. Once your body has responded to the virus you're immune from symptoms forever but any shared drink, towel or kiss could spread it to the next person even though you're symptomless.
Except, ya know, like if Mono killed you 50-75% of the time. >_>

So a vaccinated chicken that never comes in contact with Mareks is safe to add to an unvaccinated flock. But there's no way to tell if that chicken secretly has the virus or not unless it's also exposed to other chickens with no vaccinations.

Okay, thank you so much for clarifying

 

[NatJ]

At this point I’m going to wait and see how many more roosters are going to surprise me. I’ve already read homed 3 this year

Since you're interested in chickens for meat, I suggest that you not rehome any more roosters. Eat them instead.

The first bird or two you eat will probably be much more useful than this thread, as far as learning whether you like to eat the kind of chickens you currently have

 

[TarynH]

Since you're interested in chickens for meat, I suggest that you not rehome any more roosters. Eat them instead.

The first bird or two you eat will probably be much more useful than this thread, as far as learning whether you like to eat the kind of chickens you currently have

That’s probably what we are going to go.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I don't vaccinate simply because I have no reason to. To do so would result in my older birds contracting it and dying and that's my main reason not to.

I know others have already addressed this misunderstanding and it's TONS of information to absorb/process through.. But let me add.. that it could be brought in by a wild bird.. and your older birds could be exposed and even become carriers.. It most often does NOT cause neurological symptoms like the limping in older birds.. It *should* have been described in that link. The first link following has lots of details including some of the other species may be carrying CHICKEN strain MD that ISN'T effecting them including wild turkey, quail, duck, geese, partridge, etc..
https://veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13567-016-0404-3

TOTAL BS fear mongering that it kills 50% of unvaccinated flocks! I suspect it's been here for years and I didn't know it, back then.. misdiagnosed as vitamin deficiency (without cause) or the like. (I'll be honest I'm NOT sure I agree with the labs diagnosis of Marek's which had NO PCR, but was stated to be a minor infection in the brain material, Also NO tumors but some nerve enlargement) BUT I would LOVE to see AND report my numbers if someone starts a poll/thread!

This links states vaccine does NOT prevent Marek's transmission AND in decades past NEW vaccine development was required due to MORE virulent strains "appearing". From a vaccine maker themselves, I TRY to follow both/all sides to every story..
https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.co...ease virus is,Marek's Disease is very complex.

This has been super informative for me, thank you for letting me share. I have MORE studying and research to do!

@TarynH did your bird that was "walking low" (my initial concern that started this rabbit hole), stand up and act normal already?

I DON'T deny that poultry disease IS heart breaking. Even being a person who has enough courage and is capable of and DOES (or have) harvest my own turkey, chicken, and fish (never going any farther if I can help it), and understanding that something gives its' life so I/we can "live" (as we call it).. it STILL hurts to lose ANY animal. Especially the buggers that have brought so much joy and enrichment into our lives!