Marek's Disease help please!

[Silkiesaz]

How can I stop the spread of Marek's Disease in my flock? I have already had 4 hens die and have new chicks hatching soon. Can I prevent the chicks from getting it? I don't have a local vet to ask cause none of the vets in my area take poultry.

 

[coach723]

If you know (have had it confirmed) that you have Marek's in your flock, then vaccinating chicks hatched under a broody (who has been exposed to the virus) is probably not going to be effective. The Marek's vaccine has to be given at 1 day old and the chicks cannot be exposed to the virus for 2 weeks after vaccination. If you want to bring in vaccinated chicks, you would be better off purchasing vaccinated chicks, or raising them in a brooder. Even doing it in a brooder they are likely to be exposed by transfer from dust on clothing and shoes. You can purchase the vaccine on line, it usually comes in 1000 dose vials. It's a two part vaccine that you mix, it's only good for 2 hours after mixing.
http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/marek’s-disease-backyard-chickens
More on Marek's that may help you decide how you want to try to manage things, I personally breed my birds that are showing no symptoms, hoping to raise more that are more resistant to the virus.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ding-for-resistance-to-mareks-disease.894589/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/

 

[Silkiesaz]

If you know (have had it confirmed) that you have Marek's in your flock, then vaccinating chicks hatched under a broody (who has been exposed to the virus) is probably not going to be effective. The Marek's vaccine has to be given at 1 day old and the chicks cannot be exposed to the virus for 2 weeks after vaccination. If you want to bring in vaccinated chicks, you would be better off purchasing vaccinated chicks, or raising them in a brooder. Even doing it in a brooder they are likely to be exposed by transfer from dust on clothing and shoes. You can purchase the vaccine on line, it usually comes in 1000 dose vials. It's a two part vaccine that you mix, it's only good for 2 hours after mixing.
http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/marek’s-disease-backyard-chickens
More on Marek's that may help you decide how you want to try to manage things, I personally breed my birds that are showing no symptoms, hoping to raise more that are more resistant to the virus.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ding-for-resistance-to-mareks-disease.894589/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-i-learned-to-deal-with-mareks-disease.76944/

Ok, thank you for the help!