Marek's Disease question

[Barbara Tuyen]

Hi,

We have about 250 chickens, our vet has recommend that we start vaccinating new chicks for marek's due to a hen that tested positive for Marek's. I've gone online and found 2 companies that sell the marek's vaccine, unfortunately both places sell the same size vials and don't carry anything smaller. The vaccine they sell is good for 1000 doses, is a live virus and needs to be used within an hour after mixing. We're only a small flock and have 20-30 new chicks hatch monthly. Does anyone know if marek's vaccine can be sold in the form of a killed virus? I'm hoping it can be stored and reused since we're not a commercial operation and only vaccinating a small amount of chicks each month. If anyone has any information they can pass on it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Barbara

 

[Latestarter]

Greetings and welcome to BYC Barbara. Glad to have you with us. I can't answer your question but hope someone will come along that can. I don't know if you can break down the single vial into smaller amounts to mix. Hope you find something that will work for you.

 

[microchick]

Hi Barbara, and welcome.

I haven't heard of any smaller vials of vaccine available, but you will be relieved to know that there are many members on the forum who are dealing with Marek's disease, including myself. My flock is much smaller than yours, currently around 58 birds but I have lost close to 20 birds to the disease so far.

Has your vet talked to you about having to keep newly vaccinated chicks as far away from the rest of your flock as humanly possible? I have heard anywhere from 2-4 to 6-8 weeks depending on who you listen to and what you read. I have also heard recommended that you do not wear the same clothes in your brooder room that you wear outside and that you shower and wash your hair before you go into the brooder room. It's pretty extreme.

Personally, I have chosen not to vaccinate any chicks I brood or my brood hens brood, but any new chicks brought into my flock from outside sources will be vaccinated.

There are several threads on BYC dealing with Marek's disease and breeding for resistance so feel free to look them up and join in. We are sorry to have another person who's flock has been stricken by this horrible disease but glad to have new people join in. There is definitely strength in numbers!

 

[Barbara Tuyen]

Hi Barbara, and welcome.

I haven't heard of any smaller vials of vaccine available, but you will be relieved to know that there are many members on the forum who are dealing with Marek's disease, including myself. My flock is much smaller than yours, currently around 58 birds but I have lost close to 20 birds to the disease so far.

Has your vet talked to you about having to keep newly vaccinated chicks as far away from the rest of your flock as humanly possible? I have heard anywhere from 2-4 to 6-8 weeks depending on who you listen to and what you read. I have also heard recommended that you do not wear the same clothes in your brooder room that you wear outside and that you shower and wash your hair before you go into the brooder room. It's pretty extreme.

Personally, I have chosen not to vaccinate any chicks I brood or my brood hens brood, but any new chicks brought into my flock from outside sources will be vaccinated.

There are several threads on BYC dealing with Marek's disease and breeding for resistance so feel free to look them up and join in. We are sorry to have another person who's flock has been stricken by this horrible disease but glad to have new people join in. There is definitely strength in numbers!

Thank you for your advice, we're meeting with our vet tomorrow to come up with a plan of action.

 

[microchick]

Good deal Barbara. I'd be interested in knowing what he advises you to do. We do not have an avian vet closer than 100 miles from where we live so we are basically on our own. Our local vet will treat Emus and Ostriches but not chickens.....like duh.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would read Nambroth’s article which you can Google or search for here on BYC, called”The Great Big Giant Mareks Faq,” which has much info about the disease. Was the diagnosis confirmed by a poultry lab? Some diseases can look like Mareks, such as vitamin deficiency, botulism, poisoning from lead or chemicalThe best vaccine is available at hatcheries, and chicks must be kept out of a contamined area for 2-3 weeks to develop full immunity. They will be carriers of Mareks, but hopefully will not suffer the symptoms of the disease. The commercial vaccine is 1000 doses, plus costs for cooler and ice packs. Unfortunately, that is the only way to get it. Many people with Mareks in the flock, which can remain in the environment for years in the dust and dander, breed for resistance. They don’t vaccinate, and only breed those who do not come down with the disease. There are quite a few threads to read about Mareks here. Sorry that you are dealing with this.

 

[Barbara Tuyen]

Thanks for the advice, breeding for resistance seems to be a common suggestion. Unfortunately it was confirmed by a lab so I know for sure we're looking at Marek's.

 

[alibabba]

Terrible thing, Mereks. Have lost a few birds, backyard flock. I have been able to breed resistance fairly easily it seems. So it can be done.

 

[alibabba]

Terrible thing, Mereks. Have lost a few birds, backyard flock. I have been able to breed resistance fairly easily it seems. So it can be done.

ETA, I have 4 Potentially Marek's resistant cockerels right now, that will go to the auction and someone's pot next week.
Have reached point of Crow, and mating. Sire is unvaccinated approx 4 yoa.

 

[microchick]

I haven't had an unvaccinated cockerel last longer then 24 months. They either die outright from breeding stress at point of crowing or around their second birthdays from secondary Marek's tumors or infections. I have lost several to seizures and neurological problems at 8 or 9 months. I never had a necropsy done on my birds but have talked to an avian vet at Missou's veterinary lab who confirmed that it sure did sound like I had Marek's in my flock without even a necropsy. Not long after I lost my first 9 week old chick to classic Marek's sissor paralysis and noticed a rooster and hen with grey eye. My husband is a retired eye doctor so I asked him to use his portable slit lamp and examine their eyes for me. He did and confirmed that three had severe herpes infections in their eyes.

No need for a necropsy at that point in time. I had my diagnosis.

I have two vaccinated pullets in my flock now. Bought at Orschelns to keep a single chick hatch company. The chick died....yep, Marek's but her two little coop mates are going strong.

I'm hoping to add a few more vaccinated bantam chicks to my flock this next spring. In the mean time, I waiting to see who is going to survive so I can start to breed for resistance.

The magic number for my flock is 24months. So far I have hens that are 34 months old. I just need a good resistant rooster now and I'm in business.

Good think I like roosters. I sure have a lot of them that I'm hoping to get one or two good boys to help carry on my flock for me.