Merek's Vaccination?

[Adenium]

I had 2 of my Chickens come down with Mareks . I first thought it was Cocci, gave them Sulmet but it got worse...I took them to a Avian Vet and it was Mareks. I had to put them down 2 days ago I ordered 9 Bantams from MPC for Sep and the vet said to keep them separated and vaccinate after 14 days .(because they are so small) Keep indoors for another 14 days or so and then they are ready to go outside. I learned my lesson and I will always vaccinate from now on.

Thanks for the info. I have 6 bantams coming from MPC and had thought about vaccinating them myself but wondered when and how to handle it.

So where should it be given? Is it a subcutaneous or intramuscular? Any particular spot to use on a bantam? I'm a nurse and give shots all the time, but these are our first chickens!

 

[confusedbanti]

Yes you do. That is very important

 

[confusedbanti]

Make sure they do not touch soil. Keep them in a brooder. After the 14 days you vaccinate them on the back of the neck . Check out the internet, I saw a video on how to do it, I believe youtube . I will get the vaccine and my avian vet will do the injections for me, thanks god

 

[shadow rabbit10]

I heard that you vaccinate right away and that thy can go right in the brooder after vaccinating?

 

[speckledhen]

rosegal, what you probably did was order from someone who had Mareks in their flock and didn't cull the carriers. This is very common when folks refuse to euthanize birds who should be put down, from CRD, Coryza, etc, etc. They pass on their problems to other unsuspecting people. I've never vaccinated for anything and do not plan to vaccinate in the future. The vaccine does not actually prevent birds from contracting Mareks, only prevents the tumors associated with it, as I understand the vaccine. It can be a devastating disease for a flock. If mine got it, I'm afraid I'd not want chickens anymore. I don't want a flock that has to be coddled, that I cannot sell chicks from, etc, etc. It would be awful.

 

[confusedbanti]

I heard that you vaccinate right away and that thy can go right in the brooder after vaccinating?

The brooder yes but not Soil. That's what my Vet said.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Well, I'd be vaccinating them as soon as they arrive at my house, so they would't be going outside for a few weeks anyway.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Also, when you are giving the shot, should you spread the fuzz before injecting? And I also heard that pulling up on the skiing a little makes it easier? Is this true? I don't want to hurt them.Since I want to be a vet one day, I better learn how to do this now.

 

[confusedbanti]

rosegal, what you probably did was order from someone who had Mareks in their flock and didn't cull the carriers. This is very common when folks refuse to euthanize birds who should be put down, from CRD, Coryza, etc, etc. They pass on their problems to other unsuspecting people. I've never vaccinated for anything and do not plan to vaccinate in the future. The vaccine does not actually prevent birds from contracting Mareks, only prevents the tumors associated with it, as I understand the vaccine. It can be a devastating disease for a flock. If mine got it, I'm afraid I'd not want chickens anymore. I don't want a flock that has to be coddled, that I cannot sell chicks from, etc, etc. It would be awful.

I too never vaccinated. I am into all organic gardening ect. I asked the Avian Vet what in the world did I do wrong ? I keep the hens super clean, feed them organic crumbles, treats, yoghurt ect. She said that here in CA it seems to be really bad right now. I asked her if they got that from the Person/Breeder I got the Hens from and NO that is not how they got Mareks. I asked her twice because I was about to kill the guy who sold them to me. And yes you are right its awful

 

[leadwolf1]

I didn't want to inject in the back of the neck...too many nerves and spine back there to accidentally puncture if the chick would jump. So, I injected into the thigh...subq...that's just under the skin and that worked much better for me. Yes, you must pinch the skin up and make a little tent. Inject into the tent. If you don't pinch the skin, you could inject too deep. You also want to have a moist papertowel that you can spread the fuzz so that you can see what you are doing. Moisten the fuzz so that you can spread it out of the way and it stays there.

Not meaning to be disrespectful but I would not wait until they are 14 days old. You bring stuff into the house all the time on your feet, hair and clothes. I vaccinated my hatched bantams at 1 day old and didn't have any that had any side effects. Ideal hatchery vaccinates at 1 day old. Waiting is just taking the chance that they will be infected before they are vaccinated. Not a chance I want to take.

I use a 25 gauge needle...that's plenty big enough for those small thighs.

Speckledhen...unfortunately, once Marek's hits, whether you chose to euthanize or not, your flock will be carriers. It won't matter how fast you euthanize...symptoms might not appear for 6 - 8 weeks and the virus has been spread through dander for all that time. I don't have a problem with people trying to cure their birds and not just killing them..I have a problem with people who know that their birds are carriers and still sell them to others knowing that they are spreading disease!! No way would I buy chicks from someone who doesn't vaccinate. My trust in others is gone...I trusted the people I purchased chicks from and where did it get me???? Marek's and the loss of everything I wanted out of my chickens...never again!