Marek's diease diognosis in older chickens, what vaccine can I give?

[chickenzoo]

just talked with the vet and the results fom my necropsiy last month from my wasting away chicken was Mareks diease.At first it was lice, now this. He said to put them on a vaccine but most of the vaccines say for only day old chicks only.Any know what Vaccine I can use?

 

[SpottedCrow]

How old is your bird and what breed?

It's not usually found in older birds...

 

[horsejody]

All new chicks must be vaccinated. Vaccine won't do the older birds much good. They can be vaccinated older than a day old, but still young chicks. I keep my babies inside and practice biosecurity and make sure they are not exposed to the outdoors, other birds or anything that has been in contact with the outdoors or other birds. In those conditions, you can get by with vaccinating a little older, but for dosage purposes don't wait too long. I vaccinate at a week old or less. If they haven't been exposed to mareks that is fine. The manufacturer and hatcheries say a day old because they have to assume that people may immediately put birds in exposed areas. Keep in mind, that even if you get your hatchery birds vaccinated, it takes a week or so for the immunity to set in. If you get your vaccinated day olds and put them in a brooder in the coop, they may be exposed before they are immune.

Here is a link to a previous discussion.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=39918

Unfortunately, my coop has been hit with Mareks. That's why I have researched it. I take great pains on only having vaccinated chicks now. I also try to tell others. There is a lot of misinformation floating around about Mareks.

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
It was found in 2 polish hens and now 1 silkie roo, aprox 1 year old

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Yes, it is found in older birds. It can be contracted at any age, but is more often in younger birds. Most birds never have symptoms, but the disease can manifest itself under times of stress. I personally have had an adult bird come down with mareks.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I was asking because I had to take Penny to the vet on Wed because she wasn't able to walk and both feet were out in front of her...They made a tentative diagnosis of Marek's and the exotic/avian specialist said that Silkies are more susceptible to Mareks. She's a little over 2 years old. It also feels like her left hip is out of joint...and I can't get it back in and I can't really afford going back to the vet to have her put under and Xrayed, then put under again to fix...

I'm sorry about your birds Jody...

 

[chickenzoo]

Talked with a doctor that deals with poultry at the Divison of Animal Industry ,I think ,switched to a buch of people, but were very helpful, He said it could be Marek's but it is often misdiognosed and it is rare for it to show up in older birds. It was also unusal for it to have such long intervals and few birds affected.So now I'm vaccinating all young birds and watching all the older ones. I have a silkie Roo, Bubba, that has been affected, and it breaks my heart. I hope he can pull through like by Buff Polish hen Peaches seems to have, but if his quality of life goes down hill I'll have to give him up for another necropsiey. I cry even typing it. It is such a horrible thing. I thought it was over,that I neglected to see lice on my birds that were killing them, only now to find out it's worse than even that. Everyone else is fine for now, so I'll just consentrate on them.
My little JG from the MM that was ill with the problems they were having is doing better, and getting more movement every day. I have her in a sling,suspended from her cage to help build up her lax muscles. Boy can she eat now! I've called her Hope, because she never lost hers, nor I in her.

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
Is there a Division of industry or Agiculture near you,or a University teaching Hospital? I'm finding them very helpful, and they even offer cheaper testing then the Vets.

 

[illinichick]

The chicks that I have gotten so far, have been vaccinated; but I'm getting ready to bring some home from school that have been hatched in the Ag class. How do I get them immunized?

 

[chickenzoo]

Quote:
Jeffers Supply has them for $4 - $9 for 1000 dose vial