Is it necessary to vaccinate

[chixrus]

for Mareks and coccidiosis? I want to, but I don't want to vaccinate my broilers and mcmurray does either all or none, and I'm ordering layers (which I would want vaccinated) and broilers (which I DON'T want vaccinated). Just wondering if it's completely necessary.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This thread may help you. Lots of different opinions and some information.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=297034

My general take on it is to talk to your county extension agent, in the phone book under county government, about Marek's and other vaccinations in your area. They will know, or will put you in contact with someone who knows, about the occurence of various diseases in your specific area. Different vaccination may or may not be recommended in your area. Why limit it to Marek's? There may be other vaccinations you need to give when you get your chicks. I did not get mine vaccinated for anything and they are doing fine, but I do not live where you live or manage my chickens the way you manage yours.

As for the cocci vaccination, I think that is a personal decision. There are some benefits but I personally don't think they are huge. That is also covered in the thread.

Good luck!!!

 

[hoosier]

It is my understanding that poultry that has been vaccinated for Marek's shed the virus which puts those that haven't at risk. That may be why MM has an all or nothing policy.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The chickens that are vaccinated for Marek's are vaccinated with Turkey Marek's. They cannot shed that virus. Something like when I was vaccinated with cowpox to prevent me from getting smallpox.

My suspicion, and I certainly don't know, is that they vaccinate the chicks after they are sorted and in the box for shipment, assembly line fashion. To only vaccinate part of a shipment would disrupt their shipping process. I can imagine a conveyor belt system where someone sorting the boxes looks at the shipping documents and puts the box on one conveyor line for vaccinated and on a different conveyor line for not vaccinated. It could be something else entirely.

Chickens that have been vaccinated with the Turkey Marek's can still get chicken Marek's and can shed that virus, but vaccinating them with Turkey Marek's does not assure that they will get chicken Marek's. You don't know if they have it and are shedding the virus or not.