Marek's Vaccine Question

[feather13]

Check out Chickens for Backyards Facebook page. They posted an article about the Mareks vaccine on June 26.

Thank you! I just read the article and it was good news ("the vaccine does provide a lot of protection (92-95% of birds being protected) against less virulent strains"), but also bad news ("some birds (52-72%) were unprotected against highly viral strains and were able to increase the transmission of those strains," terrible news for wild birds and other chickens). I wish there was a way to find out whether or not the more virulent strain was present in our backyards.

 

[BrickCoop15]

Thanks so much for getting back to me! I really appreciate it. So yours are right next to each other, but haven't been mixed in yet? Mine are now 8 weeks old and haven't seen the older hens. I've been careful about wearing different shoes in each coop area and washing my hands thoroughly between coop visits. Honestly, Mareks is so contagious that this might be overkill since the chickens are 100 yards down the hill from the chicks and I'm sure their dander is flying around.

I LOVE your idea about getting directions from hatcheries on how to care for Mareks vaccinated chicks. The advice here on BYC is excellent and appreciated, but there's also so much conflicting information elsewhere on the Internet. Please keep me updated on your chicks and introduction to your established flock! I'd love to hear how integration goes and if the vaccine works. I'll let you know how things go here when we introduce the new chicks.

I just wanted to let you know that I mixed my new pullets with my established flock about a month ago. It was an easy integration and everyone is healthy. How are your new birds doing?

 

[feather13]

I just wanted to let you know that I mixed my new pullets with my established flock about a month ago. It was an easy integration and everyone is healthy. How are your new birds doing?

Thanks for the update and SO HAPPY to hear everything's going well with your flock! We introduced our new chicks (they are about 3 months old now) and so far, so good. One chick had coccidiosis (luckily I posted about it on BYC because I was just going to cull her out of fear for the rest of the flock), but all the birds were treated with Corid and she recovered. I still feel anxious about the chicks developing Mareks symptoms, but so far so good.

One of the Phoenix chicks even started laying this week. I know from experience that Mareks-exposed birds aren't great layers, but I'm hoping some might be. Good luck and please keep posting about your flock!