Marek Vaccination?

[Ddurlak]

The hatchery offers to vaccinate the chicks with a Marek Vaccination. Is there a reason one whould not want the chicks vaccinated? I havn't bought my chicks yet, but for as little as .17 cents per chick, it seems to be a no brainer. Can someone explain this to me please?

Thanks

David

 

[Ridgerunner]

It will not hurt to get them vaccinated.

The vaccine is not chicken Marek's. It is actually turkey Marek's. They cannot pass turkey Marek's to other chickens, so just because they are vaccinated does not mean they are definitely carriers and have to be separated from other unvaccinated chickens. Even if they are vaccinated with turkey Marek's, they can still get chicken Marek's and pass it on to other chickens. It does not mean they will, just that they can.

Chicken Marek's damages chickens by forming lesions on organs and muscles. Sort of like cancer but Marek's is a virus and cancer is not. The turkey Marek's prevents the lesions for forming on chickens so even if they get Marek's they are not harmed.

I spoke with my county extension agent, in the phone book under county government, not just on Marek's but all chicken diseases prevalent in this area. The agent put me in touch with a local expert who raises chickens, used to show them, and is on the team that investigates for the Department of Agriculture if a poultry disease is reported in this area. After talking to him, I elected to not vaccinate any of my chickens for anything. This was based on my planned management techniques and the conditions in my area. Your conditions could be different.

You can get your chicks vaccinated for Marek's and it will not hurt anything. You can investigate conditions in your area and make a decision based on that. You can not vaccinate them and trust to blind luck. Many successfully exercise that last option. They are yours and your responsibility. Do as you wish.

Good luck whichever way you decide.