Merek's Vaccination?

[ClareScifi]

Boy, Marek's is sure scary!

 

[shadow rabbit10]

You bet it is. When my chicks arrive in May, the first thing I'm going to do is vaccinate them.

 

[ClareScifi]

I thought they had to be vaccinated on their hatch day? That was what I was told.

 

[leadwolf1]

If they haven't been exposed, you can vaccinate at any age. Even if they have been, it has been shown, you can still vaccinate at any age, and have some immunity.

Since her chicks are coming at one day old, when they arrive, she will be able to vaccinate.

 

[ClareScifi]

Really? Could I vaccinate my girl at 27 weeks?

 

[seminolewind]

I just reread your post. I think that most hatcheries use injection machines and they are set to deliver the correct dosage at a certain depth on the back of the neck. Since bantams are so much smaller, if the machine wasn't set for them, it could inject into the spinal column paralyzing the chick. I vaccinate in the leg for that reason. I'm not sure your vet would have the vaccine available. It only comes in 1000 doses and once reconstituted has to be used within an hour. Can you switch to getting your chicks from a hatchery that does vaccinate bantams?

You too? I must have hit the spine with one, the shot paralized her. I had to euthanize herr. I only do legs now.

 

[seminolewind]

You bet it is. When my chicks arrive in May, the first thing I'm going to do is vaccinate them.

If they're coming from a hatchery, let them do it.

 

[seminolewind]

Boy, Marek's is sure scary!

It is. Last summer there were several of us who hung together . I've cried so much. It's an absolute nightmare. Leadwolf1 also.

There is no cure, no test unless you send a dead chicken to a lab. The symptoms can be varied other than the one-leg-forward-one -leg -back paralysis. I will always vaccinate for it now.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

If they're coming from a hatchery, let them do it.

I would, but the hatchery doesn't vaccinate bantams. 5 of the 7 chicks I ordered were bantams so I figured, if I have to vaccinate the bantams, I might as well do the 2 large ones myself too.

 

[seminolewind]

Yup. Just order the stuff now so you have it.