Mareks

Date sort Score sort
A lot of information that says both really. Primary school of thought is that the chicks need to be vaccinated before they are exposed to the virus for it to be effective. This translates to most people hatching day 1 to be sure they beat exposure. I've vaccinated chicks that were a week or so old, maybe as old as 9 days - before they were exposed to anything from outdoors. If you follow the links in my sig, it has some conversation on it. I routinely vaccinate live chicks when they arrive in the mail (as much as 5 days old). It's difficult to measure success because I've not lost a bird like this. So, despite Marek's being identified in my region, I could just be lucky, or it could be biosecurity and vaccination efforts paying dividends.

Also, I've seen a study (possibly linked in one of the topics in my sig links) suggesting that vaccinating birds AFTER symptoms have become present has had some success in stopping/slowing/reversing symptoms - this is all second hand, so obviously accounting for it is impossible, but if you have a bird that's showing signs - death is soon to follow, so why not give it a try?
 
You can definitely vaccinate past the 24 hour mark. It's not a time limit, it's exposure. If you have your chicks inside and practice bio-security you could theoretically vaccinate them any time, so long as they receive the vaccinate before they are exposed to the disease. The rule to vaccinate on day 1 essentially comes from hatcheries since they ship day old chicks - as soon as they leave the facility they have been potentially exposed - cautionary.

Years ago, I lost a small flock (10 birds or so) to Marek's disease. I only cleaned bedding and used household cleaner in the coop before replacing birds. The first batch I ordered vaccinated, but soon started adding birds I hatched and brooded inside - I vaccinated these birds as well, but again, sometimes as late as 9 days old. I've since sold the property and that flock, and every bird is still alive (minus a few that were lost to predation). In a perfect world, I would vaccinate at day 1 but that doesn't always happen and again, I would (and suggest) vaccinate up to any point after that - what is there to lose if your birds have a death sentence anyway.

In one of the links on Marek's in my signature is advice from a Doctor of Veterinary Science (who happens to be specialized in bio-security) from Virginia Tech. It offers advice much the same on vaccinating older chicks that have not been exposed. My $.02....
 
Thank you for the info. I ordered the vaccine and reviewed administration instructions. I am going to give it to my 2 month old. Not sure of her exposure as she and the hen that hatched her were in a different coop but on the same property. Will the doseage be the same 0.2 cc regardness of size & age?
 
But that's the thing.Not much people have the nerves to practice Bio-Security .Most flocks all ready have the virus.
 
100% Marek's vaccine does not 'leak' in that birds that are vaccinated cannot infect birds that are not vaccinated. "Leak" by way of the vaccine not killing the disease so much as preventing it from becoming lethal while still surviving in the host - sure. The TL;DR version of that article basically suggests that by vaccinating your birds, you're allowing the disease to spread because the vaccine keeps your birds alive when they would otherwise die from the disease - much like the suggestion that all the antibiotics in factory farming is making antibiotics less effective in the medical industry. I can buy into both articles, however - suggesting that vaccinating your birds against disease is somehow going to wipe out the poultry industry isn't genuine.

MasterofClucker hit it on the head in that most people don't practice adequate bio-security, so realistically - disease is almost certainly going to continue to spread through regions, swaps, and flocks. If you don't want to vaccinate, that's certainly your decision, but that article, and subsequent study assumes a lot without factual data and most opinions suggesting not to vaccinate are simply that - personal opinions without factual basis or data. I have an esteemed veterinary college minutes away from my doorstep and access to experts in this very field who suggest a marek's vaccine is 'always' a good idea. Until something solid suggests that vaccinating birds is legitimately harmful, I'll continue vaccinating and advocating others to do the same.


The following response was an answer to a question on this very topic - whether or not I could effectively vaccinate mailed chicks after the 24 hour window. In this instance, it was a dozen or so exhibition birds that were vaccinated around 5 or 6 days old. All are alive and doing well...

Quote:
 
Last edited:
The point is in most flocks people don't practice bio security meaning that the vaccine would be useless.You are speaking up for the 5% of people that practice bio security.
 
You can find a great deal of evidence supporting the fact that this vaccine may morph into something even worse through the use of this vaccine and that it can in fact continue to be passed from vaccinated birds.
One example:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...QaQwbvhhVHA5NB-jQ&sig2=z5_mC5PlMf7VpbuvYv6Y4w

One can find whatever evidence they want to support their own theory or feelings. I don't know which side is correct and I'm not looking for a debate. Simply saying each person should decide if the risk is worth it. For me it's not.
 
Ximena said:
Can they get sick all of the sudden? Will they all get sick? Also what can I do to strengthen the their immune systems?
Click to expand...

The MDV is one of the most common virus in the world and almost 100% of the flocks are exposed to it so you HAVE to reduce the stress level in your flock!
High stress= hige Cortisol section in the chickens =reducing the efficiency of the immune system =disease outbreak

MINIMUM STRESS is equal to:
Good and complete food
Good and clean water
Big space
Minimum flock member changing ( all in and all out policy )
Minimum connection with dogs, cats, little children
Minimum handeling
Extra vitamins and electrolytes in extreme weather
Extra probiotics = the best in my opinion fermenter feed
Un filterd ACV in the water.
A lot of greens and vegetables
Some exte materials that keep the parasites at bay - for me hot paprika
And imidiat treatment of any disease
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

W
    • Sad
Mareks diagnosis and new (unvaccinated) chicks arriving
Replies
9
Views
805
wolfhaus
W
C
Marek's Disease and its Aftermath
Replies
9
Views
1K
Henhouse Harlot
Henhouse Harlot
Canidae
    • Like
Marek's symptoms or birth defect?
Replies
3
Views
562
Canidae
Canidae
M
Mareks. Can we ever get chickens again?
3 4 5
Replies
42
Views
3K
Ksimone
K
K
    • Sad
Mareks
2
Replies
11
Views
1K
Ksimone
K

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom