Marek's Vaccine Questions...

[Silkie Nut]

Can you only give the Marek's Vaccine to day old chicks, or is there one for adult chickens? All I've heard of is day old chicks, but I just would like to check...

 

[leadwolf1]

The vaccine can be used for chickens of all ages and the dosage is the same. .2mls per bird. The reason they give it to day olds is they want to vaccinate before they are exposed to the virus.

 

[Silkie Nut]

Okay, so my next question is what if they were exposed and you did not know it, would you wipe out your flock?

 

[jewel1]

I was told by a few sources that the vaccine is not efficacious in adult birds (it only works in the day-olds).

Some people on this board disagree, but everything I've read so far tells me that it won't really have any protective effects in adult birds.

 

[leadwolf1]

If they are exposed, the vaccine will not hurt them. There is some research that indicates that the vaccine will even help if they have already been exposed. The Marek's vaccine is made from the Turkey Marek's virus...it can not give your chickens, Chicken Marek's. It is perfectly safe.

Okay, so my next question is what if they were exposed and you did not know it, would you wipe out your flock?

 

[leadwolf1]

There is a lot of research that supports the use of the vaccine not only in adult birds but, in birds that are symptomatic. Keep reading on this forum about Marek's. You will find your sources that support this claim. If you ever have the unfortunate experience of Marek's in your flock, I pray that you don't, you would vaccinate everything in sight in the hopes that anything at all will help. If I had to do it all over again, a nonvaccinated bird would never have entered my property. And, I would have never purchased birds from anywhere but a hatchery or acquired hatching eggs.

I was told by a few sources that the vaccine is not efficacious in adult birds (it only works in the day-olds).

Some people on this board disagree, but everything I've read so far tells me that it won't really have any protective effects in adult birds.

 

[Silkie Nut]

Thank you for your input. I also heard from a local breeder who also supports your opinion and vaccinates all her birds..I have seen it first hand and you are right it is not pretty... it appears to be a terrible way to die. I am definately ordering the vaccine.

 

[jewel1]

There is a lot of research that supports the use of the vaccine not only in adult birds but, in birds that are symptomatic. Keep reading on this forum about Marek's. You will find your sources that support this claim. If you ever have the unfortunate experience of Marek's in your flock, I pray that you don't, you would vaccinate everything in sight in the hopes that anything at all will help. If I had to do it all over again, a nonvaccinated bird would never have entered my property. And, I would have never purchased birds from anywhere but a hatchery or acquired hatching eggs.

I don't disagree, just wanted to mention that a lot of official sources claim it won't work. I made the mistake of ordering my 4 chicks from a hatchery without specifically asking them to vaccinate (I thought they did it automatically). So, I was struggling with this question a few months ago. I haven't vaccinated since I kept being told it wouldn't help. Not sure now. My chickens are pretty isolated, but could potentially have contact with wild birds.