Mareks Vaccine

[redhen]

Thanks for posting this! i was JUST wondering this...thanks again!, Wendy

 

[hinkjc]

I added this to the "other helpful references" link at the top of this section.

 

[verlaj]

The message that I am getting from this thread is that chicks SHOULD be vaccinated for Marek's. I have an order placed with a hatchery, and the hatchery advised NOT vaccinating chicks that would be part of a backyard flock unless there had been problems with Marek's disease in the past. If the virus is prevalent in the environment, what difference would it make if Marek's had not been a problem, or recognized, in the flock? Shouldn't the chicks be vaccinated regardless? Thanks.

 

[Mahonri]

The dosage of vaccination for adults is the same as for chicks. .2cc just under the skin, back of the neck.

Fort Dodge sells it and gives instructions.

 

[vnploveschickens]

Thanks, Jody, for sharing this information regarding Mareks vaccine.

Our Wellsummer rooster died from Mareks in October and was so very difficult to watch. The rooster was sent to our CA animal Health & Food Safety Lab and tested.

We are fairly new chicken lovers. From now on, any chicks we buy will be vaccinated. Since you need to quarrantine for 30 days, that more than covers the time to keep the chicks separate from your own flock.

More knowledge is power. Better safe than sorry. Thanks!

Val

 

[greenslope]

yes I agree on doing it. We got three bardrocks and two dyed from it and it was. Hard to watch since we didnt know until after what is was.
We just ordered and are having it done to all the new ones.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Marek's is everywhere. It's a herpes virus. Unvaccinated birds will carry the disease latent in their system. If the birds are put under stress, you risk the the disease being activated and becoming more virulent in your flock. Trust me, the few pennies it costs is well worth it. It's an awful disease. It's like saying, "Nobody at my house has ever had measles, so I'm not going to waste $25 to get my child vaccinated for measles," or "I have never seen a dog with distemper in my neighborhood, so I'm not getting my gog vaccinated for it." The hatcheries don't recommend it because they figure that if a entire backyard flock of hatchery birds is lost, then you can still economically replace them. The recommendation is not because there is no risk.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Make sure you totally quarantine the new babies for at least 10 days.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I suggest you talk to your county extension agent or a knowledgeable veterinarian about all diseases prevalent in your area, what they suggest you treat for and how to treat. I did and learned a lot. If you do talk to them, ask about fowlpox as well as Marek's. I think the vet I spoke to was especially down on Fowlpox as he used to show birds and his grand champion brought Fowlpox back to his flock and wiped out his entire line.

Marek's is definitely everywhere worldwide. The most common strain around here primarily attacks the legs and sometimes wings. In central California the most commom strain (not the only strain) primarily attacks the neck.

According to the vet, a chick that has been vaccinated can still catch Marek's. What the vaccine does (it is actually from turkeys) is prevent the lesions that cause the damage. Since the vaccine is from turkeys, the vaccine will not make the vaccinated chick a carrier. If the chicken later catches Marek's it will still shed the virus, but a vaccinated chick sheds less virus. It is still a carrier, but just an interesting effect.

From what I have seen on this site, Hoersejody is a Marek's guru. I suggest you pay a lot of attention to what she says. And I see that some of what the vet said (about a vaccinated chick still catching Marek's) seems to conflict with what she is saying.

Jody, if you still have your contact, could you please check that out. I don't want to pass wrong info.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
If you do not properly quarantine a vaccinated chick for at least 10 days, it can get Marek's. It may not show symptoms, but will shed the virus. Quarantine means starting the chicks in a sanitized brooder with sanitized equipment, not putting the brooder in the coop, not wearing the same clothes in the coop that you wear taking care of the chicks, not letting the kids pet the chickens and come in and handle the chicks, not storing the chick food in the coop, washing your hands before handling the chicks, etc, etc, etc. It's a pain in the butt, but it can save your flock. It is my personal opinion that lack of quarantine is the reason for vaccine failure. A vaccinated chick can harbor marek's if it was not properly quarantined.

ETA: The vaccine does not just prevent symptoms. It prevents the disease if the chick was properly vaccinated and quarantined. If the chick was vaccinated but not properly quarantined you may end up with a bird that has the disease but has enough immunity to not show symptoms. The quarantine is just as important as the vaccine.