Marek's vaccine in natural born chicks.

[Trevorusn]

I finally have a broody hen who is sitting. I can't wait for the hatch, but I am curious if I vaccinate the chicks for Marek's if it will still be effective seeing as the chicks will already be outside and of such a process would "discourage" the hen from raising the chicks? And yes, I do have "confirmed" Marek's in my flock.

 

[Eggcessive]

The chicks getting Mareks would have to be isolated away from any possible exposure to dander or dust from any of the chickens including the broody hen for at least 2 weeks. Mareks is pretty much everywhere around your coop and run, and all chickens should be considered carriers, whether they have shown symptoms or not. Sorry that you are dealing with Mareks in your flock.

 

[Trevorusn]

The chicks getting Mareks would have to be isolated away from any possible exposure to dander or dust from any of the chickens including the broody hen for at least 2 weeks. Mareks is pretty much everywhere around your coop and run, and all chickens should be considered carriers, whether they have shown symptoms or not. Sorry that you are dealing with Mareks in your flock.

Is there a good step by step video of how to go about vaccinating chicks? Trying to work out a plan of how to go about this. So it sounds like I'll need to scoop them up as they hatch and place them inside?

 

[Folly's place]

It's too late after they hatch! The virus isn't inside the eggs, but is on the broody hen and everywhere outside of the egg. Only by strict biosecurity and hatching in an incubator, then vaccinating the chicks as day-olds and isolating them from any home/ coop exposure for two weeks can their vaccines be effective.
Any broody hatched and raised chicks are exposed right at hatching (pipping stage) so vaccinating them won't be effective.
So sorry,
Mary

 

[Trevorusn]

It's too late after they hatch! The virus isn't inside the eggs, but is on the broody hen and everywhere outside of the egg. Only by strict biosecurity and hatching in an incubator, then vaccinating the chicks as day-olds and isolating them from any home/ coop exposure for two weeks can their vaccines be effective.
Any broody hatched and raised chicks are exposed right at hatching (pipping stage) so vaccinating them won't be effective.
So sorry,
Mary

I just ordered the vaccine, is there any chance of effectiveness at all if they are scooped up right after hatch?

 

[Folly's place]

Call the vaccine manufacturer, and/ or your state veterinary poultry expert. What I posted is my understanding of the situation.
Mary

 

[Eggcessive]

Any exposure to the feather dander could potentially expose them to the Mareks virus. The chicks must have 2 weeks of no exposure after vaccination to protect the chicks. Are you planning to raise the chicks in a brooder away from the broody hen? I would agree that if the broody hen is sitting on the eggs, and she hatches them, it is too late. But you could try this since you have already spent all of the money on getting the vaccine. Or keep the vaccine refrigerated fo another incubator hatch later.

I really feel bad for you dealing with this. I prefer to let a hen raise her own chicks around the others in the flock. Those chicks tend to do very well later. There are a lot of different opinions about raising chickens with a Mareks positive flock. Some never ever vaccinate, preferring to know when a chicken has Mareks, so they can cull them. I do recommend vaccination, but only if it is given at the hatcheries. Unfortunately, vaccinated chicks can still succumb to the disease, but I prefer giving them a chance.

 

[Trevorusn]

Any exposure to the feather dander could potentially expose them to the Mareks virus. The chicks must have 2 weeks of no exposure after vaccination to protect the chicks. Are you planning to raise the chicks in a brooder away from the broody hen? I would agree that if the broody hen is sitting on the eggs, and she hatches them, it is too late. But you could try this since you have already spent all of the money on getting the vaccine. Or keep the vaccine refrigerated fo another incubator hatch later.

I really feel bad for you dealing with this. I prefer to let a hen raise her own chicks around the others in the flock. Those chicks tend to do very well later. There are a lot of different opinions about raising chickens with a Mareks positive flock. Some never ever vaccinate, preferring to know when a chicken has Mareks, so they can cull them. I do recommend vaccination, but only if it is given at the hatcheries. Unfortunately, vaccinated chicks can still succumb to the disease, but I prefer giving them a chance.

Thanks, this is not an easy thing to plan for, and I avoided getting incubators because I want naturally raised chicks. I don't like the idea of seperating them from the hen right after hatching, so I haven't decided yet if I will attempt to vaccinate them or save the vaccine and invest in an incubator. It is indeed a very difficult choice.

 

[Trevorusn]

Call the vaccine manufacturer, and/ or your state veterinary poultry expert. What I posted is my understanding of the situation.
Mary

I will contact them today, good idea.

 

[TillyPeeps]

I heard chicks could have antibodies from the hen that is Marek positive, but I'm not 100% if it's true since it's just information from a website. If it is ture, yes, you can let your broody raise them and vaccinate them right away. The antibodies should protect them for a couple weeks, IF the eggs came from a Marek positive hen. I have Marek in my flock too, so I only order vaccinated chicks and will seperate them for 3 weeks before trying to give them to my broody. At 3 week old, the broody may not accept them though.