Marek's vaccination??

[mayberrygirl]

I have had my first set vaccinated (be here this week!!) but just noticed on Ideal's website "Ideal Poultry DOES NOT RECOMMEND any of THESE SERVICES FOR SMALL FLOCKS." - I will have a small flock of no more then 15-18 birds total... do I need to vaccinate for this - and I am wondering if the ones from Tractor Supply are vaccinated?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
You would need to ask the folks at TSC whether the chicks that get are vaccinated or not. You also need to know whether Marek's is a problem in your area or not.
I called my local agricultural extension office and the agent I spoke with told me that Marek's is not a huge issue here. After speaking with them and Teri at Ideal, I chose not to have my flock vaccinated.

 

[Chickielady]

Hello,we also had an issue last year from Murray McMurray when I ordered 25 light brahmas (beautiful !!!) that they said when I ordered the chicks to be vaccinated, the hatchery issued an e-mail to me saying they highly recommend UN-medicated start n' grow (or any other chick feed) if you have vaccinated the chicks, otherwise you will void the vaccine.
I guess what happens is the vaccine is live, albeit weakened, and the chicks are happily having their little immuns systems build up resistance by this weakened vaccine, when along comes medicated feed (with antibiotics in it) and that suppresses the chicks' tiny immunal system entirely, and they never build up the resistance.
So I had a heack of a time finding un medicated start n grow, only in small 5 pound bags, and all chicks came out fine, no coccidiosis.
Anyone else hear of this ?

 

[fours2many]

I thought medicated feed did NOT have antibiotics in it. I thought it was only good to keep cocci at bay, but not an actual antibiotic. I could be wrong, I am new at this. I thought the "non medicated" food was for the chicks immunized for cocci, not mareks...hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
The two vaccines (Marek's & coccidiosis) are for two different things and one has nothing to with the other. You can give the marek's vaccine and the coccciodiosis vaccine, one or the other or neither.
If you feed medicated feed to a chick already vaccinated for coccidiosis, nothing bad will happen; except you have wasted your money because both the med. feed and the vaccine do the same job. They prevent an overwhelming infestation of coccidia while allowing the chick's immune system time to develop an immunity. Coccidia is a parasite, not a disease. Marek's is a disease.
The common medication in medicated feed is amprolium. It's a coccidiostat, not an antibiotic.

 

[Chickielady]

Thanks !
Well, Murray McMurray never did say why not to feed medicated feed to vaccinated birds.
So, can you tell me what kind of medication is in medicated food ?
I am going to go ahead and feed medicated after all.

 

[Chickielady]

Got it, it is an anti-parasitic then.
OK, thanks so much !

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yep, amprolium. If you are getting the chicks vaccinated for coccidiosis, don't waste your money on the medicated feed. If you are getting vaccinated for Marek's but not coccidiosis, then it really doesn't matter medicated or not, but I highly recommend the medicated. The coccidia parasite is in the soil just about everywhere.

 

[mayberrygirl]

OK, well that answers her question... now does anyone know if you need to vaccinate for Marek's in North Carolina?