For your own peace of mind please read

[TXmom]

I had mine vaccinated by the hatchery for 10 cents per chick...I didn't lose any of my chicks to this. I like the peace of mind because Mareks is extremely contagious and can be spread by the wind, even if you've had no contact with sick birds. Also, the vaccination needs to be done when they are very very young, like in the first week.

Here is some good info:
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page9.htm

And info on giving the vaccine yourself:
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/mdvac.htm

 

[Amyable]

What about those folks who want to raise chicks organically? Are vaccines permitted?

 

[jbowyer01]

What if you dont know if yours were vaccinated? and you have hatched eggs? Boy did this thread just raise a lot of questions!

 

[Redtractorranch]

Marek's Dz is typically a disease of young chickens around 4 months old. It is also called range paralysis, which describes how it looks. The birds get an inflammation of the nerves and can no longer walk. Some get over it, some don't. Those that do will likely be carriers. Marek's vaccine is typically the only vaccine that is recommended for ALL chickens. You can breed for resistance to the disease, but bear in mind that it takes work and you will lose a fair number of birds in your early years. You also won't make a lot of friends if you sell chicks that are unvaccinated and forget to warn people of that fact and the sold chicks eventually get the disease.

The vaccine is injected in the back of the neck at 1 day of age. You can purchase the vaccine online from places like Jeffers livestock. It is about $10 for a 1000 dose bottle. Unfortunately, it has to be used within an hour of opening, so for me I am sometimes paying $10 to vaccinate 2 or 3 chicks. If you are not familiar with giving vaccines to your pets, horse or other livestock you may want to have your vet or another poultry person do the vaccine. Word of warning, unless your vet is a specific poultry vet, he/she will not have the vaccine on hand and will probably not know where to buy it. If you are going to have the vet do it, I would call and discuss it well beforehand so the vet or you can order the vaccine.

If you are interested in the vaccines recommended for poultry I suggest you check out the APA site.
www.amerpoultryassn.com They have a section on health that is very good for info on vaccines.

Those who live in the SF bay area can contact me. I have most of the recommended vaccines on hand and we can maybe coordinate vaccininations.

 

[crzychicken]

How do you give/apply the shot.

I know It goes in the back of the neck .

Does it go near the back more or in the middle of the neck.

How much do you give?

Does it go just under the skin?

Do you apply pressuse to the injection site after or just leave it?

Do they bleed?

I have no problem giving the shot just want to make sure I do it right?

Chicks coming at end of april

 

[Omran]

Quote:
Thank you very much for explaining this, that exactely what was aiming for, so thanks again.
Omran

 

[farrier!]

Thanks for all the information!!!!!!!
After reading this thread I called and added the vaccination to my chick order.

 

[Omran]

farrier! :

Thanks for all the information!!!!!!!
After reading this thread I called and added the vaccination to my chick order.

You are so welcome, now I feel good, no one should make the same mistake I did last year.

 

[first time farmer]

Does anyone know if tractor supply has the vaccine?

 

[Omran]

Quote:
I don't think they have it.
TSC has very little when it comes to poultry, but hey you can look on thier website too.

Omran