Can I Store My Marek's Vaccine?

[Calichickengirl]

I just hatched my first 7 chicks and I bought Marek's vaccine for them but the bottle says it should vaccinate 1,000 chicks-is there any way to store the rest of it or will it go bad after you mix it? I have 26 more chicks hatching in a couple weeks and I really don't want to spend another $30 for the vaccine plus shipping.

 

[0wen]

Nope - expires about an hour after you mix it...

 

[realsis]

If it's mixed, absolutely NOT. In fact, mixed, it must be used within the hour .on the instructions that comes with the vaccine (at least it came with mine when I did it at home) it will tell you all about it. How long it's viable after mix , ect. Have you ordered yours yet? Make sure it comes in a cooler kept cool. First State Vet online is a great place to order from. The live vaccine is not allowed to get warm during shipping. The diluent it does not matter, but the vaccine it's self should be shipped cool. Hope this helps.

 

[Calichickengirl]

Yup I already ordered the vaccine from jefferspet. I found this online but i didn't want to try it unless someone else said they've done it and it was safe for their feather babies

"...I relize that most of us hatch a few chicks this week, then in a week or so, a few more which makes it expensive to mix the whole bottle for just a few chicks. What you can do is take out about 1/4 of the powder, then mesure the liquid and pour about 1/4 of it into the powder. Then put the UN-MIXED 3/4 BACK IN THE REFRIGERATOR until the next bunch hatches. Once the two are mixed they must be used in an hour or two..."

 

[realsis]

Yup I already ordered the vaccine from jefferspet. I found this online but i didn't want to try it unless someone else said they've done it and it was safe for their feather babies 

[COLOR=333333]"...I relize that most of us hatch a few chicks this week, then in a week or so, a few more which makes it expensive to mix the whole bottle for just a few chicks. What you can do is take out about 1/4 of the powder, then mesure the liquid and pour about 1/4 of it into the powder. Then put the UN-MIXED 3/4 BACK IN THE REFRIGERATOR until the next bunch hatches. Once the two are mixed they must be used in an hour or two..."[/COLOR]

I had read about that myself but was personally afraid to try it. It seems the vaccine would be diluted that way but who knows . Maybe if it's done right it could work? It's up to the person and what they feel comfortable doing.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Very few people have the kind of sterile environment that would be necessary for considering splitting the unmixed vaccine like that. Remember that this is something you are injecting, not ingesting, so run the risk of some nasty abscesses if contaminated.

 

[ladynewtochicks]

Very few people have the kind of sterile environment that would be necessary for considering splitting the unmixed vaccine like that. Remember that this is something you are injecting, not ingesting, so run the risk of some nasty abscesses if contaminated.

I'm new to chickens but been around horses forever and I 100% agree with this you can very easily kill a horse by injecting with contaminated vaccines/needles so I would imagine the same would be true for a chicken...

 

[Calichickengirl]

Yeah that is very true, and it's better to be on the safe side! Thank you everyone for the input, I really appreciate it!

 

[Jrzebra]

Although its not easy, the Mareck's disease vaccine can be seperated into smaller batches. I have practiced dividing the vaccine for years. I hatch small batches of chicks (5-30 chicks at a time), & never would have use for 1,000 doses. Here is what I do: I purchased sterile 50ml vials on Amazon, the kind with the rubber stopper- top you can inject thru. The sterile dilutent for the vaccine is 200 ml. I divide my vaccine into 5 parts, so I use 5, 50ml sterile vials. The solid part of the vaccine is usally kind of a sticky mass, so it's a little tricky to work with; I use 2 razor blades to form it into a roll & then divide it into 5 equal parts. Place each piece into a seperate 50ml vial & seal & refrigerate 4 of them (dry, without diluting). Add 40 ml of sterile dilutent to 1 vial, mix well & then use that portion to vaccinate (up to 200) chicks within 2 hours of hydrating. Store the remaining 4 vials of vaccine & your vial of dilutent separately in the fridge. Only dilute a portion of the vaccine when you can use it immediately.
NOTE: it's very important that you sterilize your razorblades, surfaces & any other equipment with alcohol. Also, when you draw the 40ml of sterile dilutent, make sure you use a new, sterile needle, wipe the top of the vial w/alcohol & return the rest of the dilutent to the fridge after drawing the 40 ml. Its also not a bad idea to cover the top of the dilutent vial with some plastic wrap or tinfoil. THE STERILE DILUTENT CAN & WILL GO BAD IF NOT KEPT STERILE! Wipe the tops of all vials with alcohol before & after piercing w/a needle. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap b4 & after working with the vaccine & after vaccinating chicks.