Get Marek's Disease Vaccination

[realsis]

The thing is you want to vaccinate BEFORE they are exposed to the virus ideally this is after hatching however I was told by a vet that you CAN vaccinate older birds. I've done this myself but its a race to get them vaccinated BEFORE exposure.

 

[KrisH]

you have to be careful too. once they are vaccinated, they will always shed a modified version and can infect non vacinated birds. the general rule is everyone vaccinated or no one is. if yours are not vaccinated, never bring in a vaccinated one, or one of unknown origin. if you sell or give away a bird that has been vaccinated make sure they know about it.

RobertH

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m sorry KrisH, but that is just wrong. The vaccine used is Turkey Marek’s. It is not chicken Marek’s. They cannot pass Turkey Marek’s to other chickens.

The Turkey Marek’s does not prevent them from catching chicken Marek’s, it prevents the lesions that cause the damage. A chicken that has been vaccinated can still catch Marek’s but it will not show any symptoms of Marek’s.

If a chicken that has been vaccinated catches chicken Marek’s, it can infect other chickens, even if it does not show any symptoms. If a chicken has been vaccinated and does not catch chicken Marek’s, it obviously cannot infect other chickens.

Whether or not a chicken has been vaccinated has absolutely nothing to do with whether it will be a carrier.

 

[KrisH]

I’m sorry KrisH, but that is just wrong. The vaccine used is Turkey Marek’s. It is not chicken Marek’s. They cannot pass Turkey Marek’s to other chickens.

The Turkey Marek’s does not prevent them from catching chicken Marek’s, it prevents the lesions that cause the damage. A chicken that has been vaccinated can still catch Marek’s but it will not show any symptoms of Marek’s.

If a chicken that has been vaccinated catches chicken Marek’s, it can infect other chickens, even if it does not show any symptoms. If a chicken has been vaccinated and does not catch chicken Marek’s, it obviously cannot infect other chickens.

Whether or not a chicken has been vaccinated has absolutely nothing to do with whether it will be a carrier.

Really? just going off info from sources such as the NPIP calss we attended and other sources such as this http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/03/answers-from-chicken-vet-on.html and others.
Edit: here's another http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15757475

But I'm NOT in immunology, so I try to read alot and do the best I can. and i do try not to pass along poor info. I possibly have some viruses and vaccinations confused too but I still stand by the reccomendation.

and since i'm married to KrisH i get told I'm wrong A-Lot!

RobertH


and can't type worth a darn!

 

[Folly's place]

I have both vaccinated and unvaccinated birds, and have often had both vaccinated and unvaccinated chicks at the same time. I have so far not had Marek's disease here. I'm really careful about biosecurity; never get older birds or birds from uncertian sources. I also post every bird that gets sick/dies here. When I had a young bird that might have had Marek's disease, she was posted at the state lab, for my peace of mind. Vaccination and flock biosecurity, and probably some good luck, pays off! Mary

 

[fishbirdss]

I have new chicks hatching now.....I going to vaccinate them along with my other birds....what will happen if I give the vaccine to an older bird that had been exposed?

 

[realsis]

Nothing will happen to the older bird. It won't hurt if you give The vaccine to older birds. It might not HELP but it won't hurt. I've given it to older birds. I've been fortunate not to have mareks. here is what I've been told. That you want to give the vaccine before exposure for it to help. But it won't hurt either. Remember that your newly vaccinated chicks should be given 14 days after vaccination for immunity and antibodies to form before exposure. Exposure would mean adult chickens or outdide activity. I gave my babies their vaccine not too long ago and by Thanksgiving they should have developed enough antibodies to go outside. Hope this helps.

 

[fishbirdss]

Thank you! Thats the info I was looking for!

 

[all4dogs]

Yes you can vaccinate adult birds. It's actually a little easier than vaccinating chicks as it's easier to pinch up a little skin. There are several nice videos that show how to. Dividing the vaccine lets you save some for new additions. Best done at night when they are sleepy.

 

[gander007]

Yes you can vaccinate adult birds. It's actually a little easier than vaccinating chicks as it's easier to pinch up a little skin. There are several nice videos that show how to. Dividing the vaccine lets you save some for new additions. Best done at night when they are sleepy.

Thank you for your input on vaccinating chicks and adult birds as I have never had Mareks that I know of but I do get new
adults birds for time to time to widen or alter the gene pool every so often and with all the reading I have been doing lately
I am now after 50 yrs of having chickens am doing all the preventive medicine I can for a healthy flock .......

Oh before I miss the chance

always happy to greet someone who knows something new to me

gander007