Mareks. Can we ever get chickens again?

[FrostRanger]

You bring Mareks onto your property once you bring in a vaccinated bird, it's a leaky vaccine.

Just being vaccinated doesn't mean the bird is infected. A bird with the vaccine can certainly get infected later and spread the disease to others but they aren't infected from the start

 

[MoonFarm]

You bring Mareks onto your property once you bring in a vaccinated bird, it's a leaky vaccine.

Yeah, I feel like it’s here to stay for the foreseeable future ): A resistant breed seems like the only option if we don’t want to risk more sickness

 

[MoonFarm]

Keep in mind that if you hatch eggs or get straight run chicks, 50% will be roosters, and it would be irresponsible to sell them or give them away without full disclosure that they carry Marek’s. (Honestly, even with full disclosure, I wouldn’t do it, as the people you give them too could spread Marek’s to other flocks themselves.)

That’s true! Hadn’t thought of that, but that rules out hatching eggs for me. We wouldn’t be capable of culling any roosters either. We have chickens for eggs but they are also pets.

 

[MoonFarm]

Just being vaccinated doesn't mean the bird is infected. A bird with the vaccine can certainly get infected later and spread the disease to others but they aren't infected from the start

I’m sure it helps to be vaccinated but all three of ours who died were too. It feels like too much of a risk to me that one would get it anyway.

 

[MoonFarm]

A neighbor mentioned to me that Dorkings might be resistant as well..does anyone here have info regarding that?

 

[MoonFarm]

I can’t say, I don’t have statistics for either. Are Fayoumis available for you locally in the first place? If they’re not then it’s a moot point.

Not that I’ve been able to find yet

 

[FrostRanger]

I’m sure it helps to be vaccinated but all three of ours who died were too. It feels like too much of a risk to me that one would get it anyway.

Oh, I wasn't saying that vaccinated birds can't get sick and die. I was replying to someone who was saying the vaccine itself introduces the disease into your flock which is not true. It is certainly a leaky vaccine but unless the bird was infected by other means just being vaccinated doesn't mean the bird is necessarily a carrier

 

[MoonFarm]

Oh yes, that makes sense