Merek's Vaccination?

[shadow rabbit10]

I will. So you definitely recommend the leg? Do you still make a "tent" with the skin? Is it just as effective as the neck?

 

[seminolewind]

I can't recommend anything. What I can say is that my chicks will always get vaccinated, but since I hurt one, I will always do the thigh. You can hold the chick and pull the leg out a bit with one hand. I want the needle to go in sideways under the skin about 1/8 inch. I don't know how effective, I know it's better than nothing, and I keep my chicks quarantined for 10 weeks. And with a few batches of Polish I vaccinated them twice, one day old, then 3 weeks old. My Polish were highly susceptible to it.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Ok. Thank you.

 

[ClareScifi]

I'm scared to vaccinate. My luck, I'd do something wrong and she'd die of that, instead of Marek's. I am not a good doctor/nurse. Just the thought of vaccinating her, or trying to, makes me weak and sick feeling. Would a vet still vaccinate her at 27 weeks for me?

 

[leadwolf1]

I didn't paralyze any, I just decided the leg was a much safer way to go in the beginning...and, I'm very glad that I did

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

 

[leadwolf1]

Or, get a really good helper. Have them hold the chick, leg out and then you are free to 'tent' the skin and inject. It really isn't a scary injection since it goes under the skin. I don't know if any vet vaccinates for Marek's at all. The vaccine only comes in 1000 doses and only stays 'good' for one hour after it is mixed. I don't think they would have it on hand.


seminolewind...I agree, polish and silkies have to be the worst as far as susceptibility. I am going to revaccinate everyone when my current chicks hit 6 weeks...do you think I should do the polish sooner????

I can't recommend anything. What I can say is that my chicks will always get vaccinated, but since I hurt one, I will always do the thigh. You can hold the chick and pull the leg out a bit with one hand. I want the needle to go in sideways under the skin about 1/8 inch. I don't know how effective, I know it's better than nothing, and I keep my chicks quarantined for 10 weeks. And with a few batches of Polish I vaccinated them twice, one day old, then 3 weeks old. My Polish were highly susceptible to it.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

This is kind of a silly question, but what should I do with the rest of the unused vaccine? The online instructions say to burn it, but I do not understand what that means. Also where am I supposed to burn it? Can I just throw it away? Can someone please clarify this?

 

[leadwolf1]

It needs to be burnt because it is a live vaccine. It is a live turkey vaccine that they use to vaccinate chickens. If it were to just be thrown away, it could infect a whole lot of critters that can contract turkey marek's.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

So, do I throw it in a fire or something, or do I dump it in a pot and let it burn? And, do i have to burn the container too? I just do not understand how I am supposed to burn the liquid and the container. I don't have a fire pit or anywhere to start a fire.

 

[leadwolf1]

Hhhmmmm...that is a good question. I just hand it over to my DH and DS and they take care of it in our fire pit. I've never asked them how they do it. I would think that you could start a fire and pour the liquid on it...then, pitch the bottle in and let the heat kill anything that is left. All syringes need to be burned also. Sorry, I am not anymore help. Maybe someone else...seminolewind, where are you???...will help with this question.