can I add a baby turkey chick to my flock that carries mereks?

[polar peckers]

I am confused if they are the same disease that the vaccine is for,..and if I can give the young turkeys the chicken vaccine for mereks? It says its a turkey blah blah vaccine but is it really for turkeys!!??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Turkeys don't get vaccinated for Mareks as they don't come down with it. They can be carriers I believe.

 

[R2elk]

I am confused if they are the same disease that the vaccine is for,..and if I can give the young turkeys the chicken vaccine for mereks? It says its a turkey blah blah vaccine but is it really for turkeys!!??

The vaccine made for chickens is produced from turkeys that have intentionally been iinfected with Marek's.

can I add a baby turkey chick to my flock that carries mereks?

It is not advisable to add a single turkey to a flock of chickens. They are very social birds and only other turkeys can understand a turkey. As @oldhenlikesdogs can tell you there are a number of good reasons that turkeys should not be kept with chickens.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've learned not to mix turkeys and chickens the hard way unfortunately. Not only can turkeys be relentless and deadly to chickens, but I had a young rooster scalp an older turkey hen trying to breed her because I thought it would be harmless to leave him with the turkeys.

 

[polar peckers]

ow dear lots of ins and outs! BUT THEY ARE SOOOO CUTE! lil black spanish poults! Ive been thwarted from ordering vaccinated chicks, and itchin for some fluffies! Pretty sure the Mereks went through my young flock though..I know ducks do not get mereks but i dont want ducks in alaska in the winter!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can keep turkeys, just make them their own pen and shed. You will be grateful that you did.