Maine

[klf73]

So what is the consensus on Marek's vaccines? It can only be done to day old chicks, right? We have a neighbor across the street with chickens, down the road with chickens, my mom now has chickens, so I'm assuming exposure is possible.

Do most of you raising chicks vax for it? I'm guessing I am much safer going with vaxed chickens only, right?

I was told you can vaccinate adult birds and I do vaccinate. Vaccinated birds do not "spread" the disease. I would rather be safe than sorry, I don't vaccinate for anything else....

 

[klf73]

I was told you can vaccinate adult birds and I do vaccinate. Vaccinated birds do not "spread" the disease. I would rather be safe than sorry, I don't vaccinate for anything else....

I have also spoken to many breeders and they also vaccinate, it is easy to transmit and I lost a lot of birds buying from a reputable source that sent me chicks that unknowingly exposed to mareks, you never know....so far what I have been doing is working...

 

[TayFray!]

PM me and maybe we can work something out, thanks!

yep, it's brand new, only used for a few days. I still have the box, if I was dishonest I would clean and return it

quote:

 

[peterslovo]

Scarborough representing here. Just saying hi to all the Mainahs!

 

[kinsey228]

Just rec'd my Marans hatching eggs. They aren't as dark as I thought they'd be

The roo is from a really dark egg, so hopefully, if any hatch, they will lay dark

When these are put in the bator, I'll have 25 eggs in there. I REALLY hope that I have good hatches !

 

[gracejr]

That's sort of where I am. There are a lot of backyard chickens around here, some not kept in the best sort of conditions, and several within a half mile to mile radius. We won't be culling at the end of the year since the birds will be pets just as much as a source of protein. (Any meat production would be a long way off) If there aren't any real downsides to vaxing the chicks, why not? Or are there downsides to doing it? Though if I get pullets and hens instead of chicks, I'll just have to make sure they were vaxed I suppose. The last thing I'd want would be my sons pet (which he's already named Clucksy lol) to die for something that is easily prevented.

I've read mixed things on vaxing older birds. It sounds like, if they've been exposed in the past, the vaccine will be useless. So unless they've been quarantined their entire lives, it's still a gamble.

Now, as for hens raising their own chicks... We will be getting a rooster eventually and letting chicks hatch. So long as all the adults have been vaccinated, the chicks will gain immunity naturally? Or would they need to be vaccinated as well? The plan would be to let mama hen raise them.

On that note... Are any of the breeds I'm looking at good for being broody and raising chicks? I don't know if this is what we'll get, since finding vaxed pullets at or near ready to lay age is going to limit my options I'm sure... But this is what I'm looking for: Orpingtons, Australorps, Eggers, Sussex and Plymouth Rocks.

I have also spoken to many breeders and they also vaccinate, it is easy to transmit and I lost a lot of birds buying from a reputable source that sent me chicks that unknowingly exposed to mareks, you never know....so far what I have been doing is working...

 

[klf73]

Believe it or not a lot of prominent breeders on here vaccinate. I got lots of messages when I was having my problems. They told me to vaccinate my older birds ...

 

[joanie_maine]

 

[klf73]

I too don't bring anything in and was highly selective of where my birds(chicks) came from. I had NO problems for over 3 years....
NPIP does NOT guarantee mareks free, FYI. I was talking to Jean(pips&peeps) about NPIP and learned that it only covers Pullorum, Salmonella typhoid, Salmonella enteritidis, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Mycoplasma meleagridis, and Avian Influenza, .......NOT Mareks....and it is a devastating disease that can be averted by a simple vaccination, JMHO(from a previously heartbroken chicken momma)

 

[hoppy]

in maine our NPIP testing does not cover Avian Influenza. this year when they do the new training of NPIP testers, they are going to try to make our testing include AI for those that need it to show in NH and other states that require it. so if you do the normal test, you won't be testing for AI unless you request it.

I too don't bring anything in and was highly selective of where my birds(chicks) came from. I had NO problems for over 3 years....
NPIP does NOT guarantee mareks free, FYI. I was talking to Jean(pips&peeps) about NPIP and learned that it only covers Pullorum, Salmonella typhoid, Salmonella enteritidis, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, Mycoplasma meleagridis, and Avian Influenza, .......NOT Mareks....and it is a devastating disease that can be averted by a simple vaccination, JMHO(from a previously heartbroken chicken momma)