MJ's little flock

[BDutch]

Several months ago, I bought some eggs for Mary to hatch. It didn't work out, but that's beside the point.

It turns out the same small business I got her eggs from also offers vaccinated chicks from some of the sex-linked breeds.

Good to know for the 2026-27 summer expansion, when I'll be thinking of vaccinated tiny pullets.

What vaccines?
If your other chickens were not vaccinated, this is maybe not what you should do. You can bring in a disease like Marek to your older hens.
Ask please before you decide and ask for advice.
In the ‘peeps in Europe’ thread there is a recent discussion about vaccinating.

 

[BDutch]

Congrats with Sarah’s test results.
Such good news. Finally you can leave this chapter behind you.

 

[MaryJanet]

What vaccines?

Marek's and coccidiosis.

If your other chickens were not vaccinated, this is maybe not what you should do. You can bring in a disease like Marek to your older hens.

Indeed! I've just been through that very incident.

Ask please before you decide and ask for advice.
In the ‘peeps in Europe’ thread there is a recent discussion about vaccinating.

I will check it out.

 

[ksbkeys]

Sarah's results are negative! No Marek's disease!

Brilliant.

I can break quarantine and she can go talk to the others.

And it seems very likely indeed that Agnes and Bernadette had one of the less virulent Marek's pathotypes.

Fantastic news! So good to have peace of mind! Yay, Sarah! Enjoy your mates!

 

[MaryJanet]

Fantastic news! So good to have peace of mind! Yay, Sarah! Enjoy your mates!

It's a huge relief.

The fact that Sarah wasn't infected even though she was living in close proximity with Bernadette and Agnes indicates the pathotype was perhaps the 'mild' type.

I'll still do a very deep clean with virus-deconstructing agents. Hopefully that'll be enough to prevent future environment-initiated outbreaks.

 

[RoyalChick]

What vaccines?
If your other chickens were not vaccinated, this is maybe not what you should do. You can bring in a disease like Marek to your older hens.
Ask please before you decide and ask for advice.
In the ‘peeps in Europe’ thread there is a recent discussion about vaccinating.

This is not the place for this discussion, but it is a common myth that a vaccinated chick will introduce Marek’s to the flock.
It can only do so if it catches Marek’s before arrival.

 

[MaryJanet]

This is not the place for this discussion, but it is a common myth that a vaccinated chick will introduce Marek’s to the flock.
It can only do so if it catches Marek’s before arrival.

This is consistent with what I have read.

The chick must have "wild caught" Marek's for it to shed.

 

[MaryJanet]

@RoyalChick while you're here, may I trouble you for the name of the cleaning agent that breaks down the Marek's virus?

 

[MaryJanet]

I would do a PCR test for one of the hens and also the older hens' coop. What the PCR lab explained to me is that hens with Marek's do not shed virus all the time and so can test negative. But you can detect the virus in the dust and dander around the coop.
Unfortunately I couldn't find anyone who could look at different strains.
You can probably get a PCR test done in Australia - but if not, the lab I use in Texas accepts samples from anywhere in the world though I think you would have to get one of their cotton swabs to take the sample. I probably have spare and can send you a couple if you go in that direction.
I will look for the India study on heat later this evening (my time).

I believe the only tests I can access examine blood samples. So a proper clean out might be my best course of action.

 

[RoyalChick]

@RoyalChick while you're here, may I trouble you for the name of the cleaning agent that breaks down the Marek's virus?

Virkon S (brand name).
It is a general virucide but lists Marek’s disease virus which should mean it was specifically tested against it.

Data sheet (also shows active ingredient in case brand is different in Oz): https://syndel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Virkon-S-Information-Page-Lanxess.pdf

Amazon (US) product link: https://a.co/d/hflnAHa

Link to Aussie site that seems to have it. I have not cross-checked that it is the same ingredients: https://www.aussievetproducts.com.au/