Marecks Disease

[silkiechick05]

I hear a lot about this disease, and i have some questions about it

1) My chicks haven't been vaccinated. How can i prevent my babies from getting it??

2) I also heard that at a certain age, they are pretty much protected from it. When can i stop worrying about them getting it??

 

[horsejody]

1.) Marek's is everywhere in the environment. It's a herpes virus. Most unvaccinated birds are infected with it but the disease doesn't manifest itself. It can rear it's ugly head in times of stress. Your best bet is to not bring in outside birds because they may be carrying more virulent strains than you currently have.

2.) Marek's is more likely to hit a younger bird, but it can show up in older ones. There are no guarantees.

 

[silkiechick05]

so pretty much all chickens have it unless they were vaccinated at hatching?

 

[houndit]

I read that if they are raised with turkeys they develop an immunity to Mareks. I do not know if that is true or not.

 

[Megs]

i beleave there are several different mareks vaccines, but the most common is made from the turkey version of the mareks virus which is slightly different than the chicken version (not sure if its true they get immunity just living with turkeys though).

from the reading i have done it would seem it is very likely that most unvaccinated birds are carriers since it is found almost everywhere in the world. the vaccine should be administered in egg or on hatch day for best results and is 85-90% effective. it is my understanding that even vaccinated they can get mareks, but the vaccine stops the harmful effects that kill them, so even chicks from vaccinated parents must be vaccinated to have the 'immunity'.

 

[silkiechick05]

Yeah.. i got the chicks at three weeks old, and they weren't vaccinated...

so i guess i am going to have to cross my fingers and hope they don't get it


Man! To think how much chickens can stress you out!!

 

[houndit]

We never ask for our chicks to be vaccinated. We do not believe in vaccinations at all. We still have not had Mareks. You will probably be fine. Keep them clean and healthy. Quarantine new birds.