Does anyone NOT vaccinate for Marek's?

[underground chickenman]

I don't. My own research suggests that Mareks is not a big concern for small backyard backyard flocks. If you are close to other chickens, especially a commercial farm, then maybe you should, but otherwise I don't think it is a concern.

UGCM

 

[underground chickenman]

Quote:
Second question first: The Marek's vaccine is a live virus. It is weakened, but it is live. I don't believe there is a killed virus vaccine for Marek's, but I welcome the correction if anybody knows better.

First question: The vaccinated chicks will likely pass the virus to the unvaccinated chicks. From what I understand, they will be asymptomatic, just like the vaccinated ones, but they will actually carry the "lab" version of the virus (weakened). I am still researching what that means (coincidentally, I was just looking at this issue a few days ago), but from what I can tell so far, it isn't a big deal. In deciding whether to vaccinate the unvaccinated ones, the considerations are the same as they would be if you didn't have vaccinated chicks. Although the vaccinated chicks will likely pass the "lab" virus to your unvaccinated chicks, the unvaccinated chicks can still get the "field" virus. So, apparently, picking up the lab virus from the vaccinated chicks does not afford the same protection as being vaccinated. Even being vaccinated is not a guarantee against getting the field virus. In fact, the vaccine doesn't prevent infection with the field virus at all. It only reduces the likelihood of symptoms. So your unvaccinated chicks could get the field virus from your vaccinated chicks, if they got it. But, if they did get it, they would probably all get it together any way.

Weird stuff, and I am not completely comfortable that I have a firm grasp on all the issues, but I think what I have written thus far is accurate.

UGCM

 

[henney penny]

I don`t and don`t intend to

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I don't vaccinate for it. It's not an issue in my area, so there's no reason for me to be introducing it.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

We've never had any problems with it and don't vaccinate, however I have a friend in Oregon and she said they have a terrible time with it and vaccinates everything.

 

[eponagirl]

I believe from what I researched and talked with vets, the marek's vaccine used for chickens is Turkey marek's which is different enough that it doesn't cause the virus in chickens, just boost the immune system to prevent symptoms (yes they CAN still get the field virus, but the vaccine prevents the symptoms. The symptoms are what actually hurt the bird (lesions on the nerves that cause paralysis, leading to death in the end). The "Lab" virus gets shed, but does NOT infect unvaccinated chicks with Marek's disease (it cannot since it is not a strain that infects chickens) That is a myth only! I have a backyard closed flock and one of my unvaccinated chickens DID get Marek's...so now all new chicks MUST be vaccinated here because I do not want to see my chickens suffer that way if they were to get it. I still have 3 unvaccinated chickens who are to date healthy (

) It seems it is going around in my area. SO, if you are lucky enough to live in an area where you can avoid vaccinating because there has never been a case, great! If not, I'd vaccinate if you don't want to be the one spreading this very contagious disease around and having chickens potentially get ill (they don't all end up with symptoms, but I've heard of whole flocks being wiped out too).

My gang all get organic feed, etc and i don't like to vaccinate, but this is the exception, FOR ME. Each person has to way out their own situation. If you are unsure, vaccinate, it does NO harm to do so. I am not a happy camper that in my first year of owning chickens I see marek's and some people go their whole poultry lives never seeing it...lucky ones!

 

[speckledhen]

I don't vaccinate for anything.

 

[InsaneBreeder]

I don't vaccinate.

 

[BarkerChickens]

We don't vaccinate our chickens for anything at all. We don't use medicated feeds either. Our dogs and cat get some, but not all vaccines (we have lots of strays around here, so that is more of a risk). Our flock is a closed flock, so we have never had problems.

 

[KDbeads]

Nope, not here.