Mareks disease vaccine for current/ future flock and chicks?

[Beldenfarm]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone knew of a mareks disease vaccination that I could possibly buy online through a poultry or farm animal vaccination website? I am new to all of this, I have had my flock since the beginning of this past summer. Half of my flock was vaccinated for mareks disease when we got them as chicks, and half were not. I would like to vaccinate the chickens for mareks disease now so I know I have a fully vaccinated flock. I wish to do so because i would love to be able to let my silkie hatch out some chicks this summer, and i dont want the chicks to risk exposure/ i would like to vaccinate them once they hatch as well! I really want to vaccinate them, because we have so many flocks of chickens in my town im worried about airborne exposure!

I will not be able to do shots- I can only manage to vaccinate them with a drinking water administration technique, or a mist technique, because I am obviously not trained on how to use a needle! I have read online that there are water administered vaccines that are usable on older chickens, just cant find them!

Any help would be great on this thank you!

 

[Farmer Viola]

Here are some instructions
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/5-3/how_to_vaccinate_poultry_chicks_for_mareks_disease/

There isn't a spray method for at-home, that's for commercial hatcheries only as far as I know...

the vaccine is $26 online with cold pack and diluent included
http://www.strombergschickens.com/product/Mareks-Vaccine-1000-Doses/New-Products
buy a syringe though


older birds can also be vaccinated, source:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/263563/should-chickens-be-vaccinated/10#post_4222402

 

[realsis]

As a matter of fact I just got done giving my girls their Mareks vaccine!! As I understand the only way we as public can administer the vaccine is through the needle. Don't worry its not as bad as you think it is. this vaccine is given just UNDER the skin and NOT in the muscle or vein. So what you do is pinch the
skin at the base of the neck and just gently place the needle JUST UNDER THE SKIN and expell the fluid . Each bird gets 0.2. The vaccine will come with very clear instructions on what to do. I purchase my vaccine from First State Vet Supply online. It is packaged very carefully and kept cool the entire trip. You can also purchase syringes from them. The vaccine is around 19 dollars and very much worth the cost. You don't have to be skilled with a needle in order to do this vaccine. The sprays and mists as far as I know are for different vaccines and not mareks. if they are available they would only be available in huge quanity for hatchery use. I know other home use vaccines that come in that form but not mareks. As I understand it it must be administeted just under the skin. Trust me on this if I can do it ANYONE can do it.its very fast and easy. You are pinching up skin on the base of neck and just injecting UNDER the skin only. No muscle is involved. You can watch a few you tube videos on how its done and this might help. Your just barely putting the needle under the skin. I really hope this helps you and if I can help in any way feel free to send me a private message and id be happy to help. Mareks is such a important vaccine. And such a terriable disease! Good for you for wanting to protect your flock with the vaccine. The birds have no reaction to the vaccine what so ever and it does not cause them pain. In my opinion its one of the best things you can do for your babies. I wish you the best and hope this was helpful.

 

[Pathfinders]

Here are some instructions
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/5-3/how_to_vaccinate_poultry_chicks_for_mareks_disease/

There isn't a spray method for at-home, that's for commercial hatcheries only as far as I know...

the vaccine is $26 online with cold pack and diluent included
http://www.strombergschickens.com/product/Mareks-Vaccine-1000-Doses/New-Products
buy a syringe though


older birds can also be vaccinated, source:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/263563/should-chickens-be-vaccinated/10#post_4222402

Thanks for quoting the article I wrote for Backyard Poultry Mag! I also have a copy of the article (and others) here: http://pathfindersfarm.com/Vaccinate.html

You can also buy Marek's vaccine from First State Vet Supply: http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store2/mareks-vaccine.html

And he sells the little syringes which work so well for Marek's here: http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store2/1-cc-syringe-with-needle.html

Plus get one 3 cc syringe to mix it: http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store2/3-cc-syringe-with-needle.html

Good luck with your chicks.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Hah, that's you?! I have your instructions printed with photos and in plastic sleeves!! Awesome tutorial, you've no idea!

 

[Pathfinders]

Hah, that's you?! I have your instructions printed with photos and in plastic sleeves!! Awesome tutorial, you've no idea!

Yep, that's me!

And if you like you may hand that out to others (like 4-H kids and so on) as long as my name and copyright stays on it. Let me know if you'd like it as a PDF, happy to email one to whoever needs it.

Funny thing about that, when I was doing it (for our 4-H group) I didn't have any actual chicken chicks, so used guineas for the photos, LOL (guineas don't get Marek's Disease.)

The nice thing about the articles I write for Backyard Poultry Magazine is that the American Bantam Association gets a free ad every time I do one, as part of the deal. For a long time I was not compensated at all (except for a warm fuzzy feeling) but now the new editor gives me a small stipend as well, which is lovely.

 

[realsis]

Have you ordered your vaccine yet? Remember to give them time to build their immunity before they go out or mix with adults. Some say its one week but I've read its 14 days. I just did mine last week so on or by thanksgiving they should have their antibodies built up enough that they can go outside. Remember it takes time to build the antibodies and you wouldn't want them to be exposed before their antibodies kicked in. Hope this helps. Have you done your vaccines yet? Mine went well. They didn't seem to feel a thing and it didn't bother them a bit.

 

[Beldenfarm]

Thank you all! I have not ordered my vaccines yet, because since I am still new to this, my chicks, now all grown up are just beginning to lay eggs, and are now hens? (i think- correct me if i am wrong!!!) I think my buff orpington named lemon has began to lay, and I could not be more thrilled! I have one male silkie so I may try to have him breed with one of my cochins or other silkies when he gets a bit older (probably wont be able to stop him when he starts it up!) I didnt think that having my hens breed/ hatch out eggs in the winter would be the best idea the little babies would freeze if they left the underside of momma for one second! I might try in the spring when it gets warmer! So that is when I will be vaccinating my older hens as well as chicks if i decide to go with this plan.

How fun would that be to see what beautiful little chicks my blue silkie would make with my other little buff silkie, mottle cochin or white cochin... maybe even my polish girl! I am excited for possible future endeavors and for the wonderful eggs we will soon be getting!!!

I am wondering, if I vaccinate older hens how do i do that? its a bit different than chicks since they do have feathers, and not just fluff!

 

[Pathfinders]

I honestly can't comment on vaccinating older birds, as I have never done so. I would do a little more research on that before you do so.

 

[realsis]

You would vaccinate them the same way as chicks but usually older birds have already been exposed to the mareks virus. you want to try to vaccinate when they are babies BEFORE they get a chance to get exposed to the virus. Ideally you would vaccinate as babies and give them time for the antibodies to develop BEFORE you let them outside. The mareks disease is Every where and you want to get them vaccinated Before any one gets exposed.it won't hurt to vaccinate a older bird its just that it might not do much good if they have already had exposure. I just recently vaccinated my babies (they have been inside and not outside yet) I have to wait a good 4 weeks before I let them out giving them a good amount of time to develop the antibodies before exposure. The vaccine is given just under the skin on the back of the neck. You will want to pinch up the skin of the neck and inject the vaccine just under the skin. They don't feel any pain from the injection nor do they have any reaction. Hope this helps. Just follow the directions given with the vaccine and you should be fine. As for your older birds. You CAN vaccinate them it will not hurt them its just if they have been exposed already it won't do much good. But that's up to you. You can certainly do it.it would be the same dose as for the babies. Good luck and best wishes