Marek's and new chicks

[darcylapp]

I know there are a lot of threads on here about Marek's, but I started this new one because none of the threads I found touched specifically on my situation. I had seven chicks last year, and four of them died from Marek's. Now, I have two Bantams left and one Easter Egger. They are adults and seemingly healthy. My husband and I adore them. I know they are probably shedders (carrying the disease).

I recently purchased four new chicks (one Barred Rock and three Easter Eggers) from a hatchery and got them each vaccinated for Marek's. I'm wondering how safe it is and when it will be safest to introduce these cuties to the other chickens. Right now, they're in a brooder, and we take all necessary precautions (washing hands between handlings, new clothes, etc.) My husband and I live on a little over an acre and were considering building another coop/run set far away from the other, but we'd prefer to put them all together if possible.

However, I don't want to go through what we went through last summer with the chickens getting sick and dying. Advice? What are steps we should take to ensure safety for all when introducing. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[mrbunker]

Just wondering how your situation went. We are going to be in the same boat this spring and I can not handle losing half our flock to this horrible disease again!!! Did you successfully introduce the new ladies to your original flock? Any one come down with Marek's symptoms? Hope all went well!!

 

[darcylapp]

Thanks for checking in! Our hens are doing fine. We ended up keeping them inside until about 10 weeks old, and then put them in with the older two hens. We decided against getting another coop, but all is well. My advice to any new chicken owners now is definitely to get the vaccination. We had gotten our first batch straight from the hatchery, so we figure they picked up Marek's from songbirds or something since we live out in the country.

 

[seminolewind]

Me too. After a sad summer, I hatched eggs, vaccinated them and kept them inside or separate for 8-10 weeks. All is good so far. I'm so scared that I am now vaccinated twice, 2 -3 weeks apart, like I heard they do in Europe.