Not an Emergency...Marek's in the Flock

[schnebbles]

I think I'll look for pullets that a breeder has already vaccinated who might be older when I finally get more, if I do.

 

[realsis]

The vaccine needs 4-8 weeks to fully develope inside the bird it was given to.  Anything less than 4 weeks is asking for trouble.  I kept my birds separated for the full 8 weeks and then
put them outside into their new construction
building where they are still separate from the
original flock.  At 6 months separation now, they will
be added into the main flock.  So far everything has
worked very well.  The only sign of Marek's has been
the 1 bird who rapidly went down after being picked
on by the others in her flock.  This bird was part of
my breeding for Marek's resistance groups and was
unvaccinated and obviously already carrying the
virus inside.


Thank you so much for this advice! Some might think I'm being a bit paranoid but I've seen what Mareks can do. My old breeder I used to use her flock came down with Mareks and she lost so many beautiful birds and she lives about 50 minutes away from me.so I might as well figure my land has it too because its every where!! I know most folks would think I'm being over protective but it really woke me up when her flock came down with this disease. I just don't want to take chances with my babies. after reading your stories I feel Im doing the right thing by keeping them inside until they have a chance to build immunity. I understand its not 100% but it will give them a better chance hopefully. I very much appreciate your advice and help. God bless.

My advice is keep your birds separate for a full 6 weeks and practise biosecurity to the nines.  The vaccine isn't fool proof but it's the best we have right now.

 

[schnebbles]

I'm glad you are being so careful. I think for a person to really think seriously about Mareks they have to almost know someone who had it or have had it. I was under the assumption it was pretty rare. NOT! None of my breeders vaccinate and none have had it. I had heard of it before I got my chickens but just didn't think much of it. Now I know.

 

[seminolewind]

I'm glad you are being so careful. I think for a person to really think seriously about Mareks they have to almost know someone who had it or have had it. I was under the assumption it was pretty rare. NOT! None of my breeders vaccinate and none have had it. I had heard of it before I got my chickens but just didn't think much of it. Now I know.

X2!!!!!

 

[realsis]

Yes to watch all the pain my breeder went through when Mareks hit her flock really woke me up. she had the MOST beautiful silkies and she suspected mareks and sent a body out And the lab confirmed her suspition. She did in fact have Mareks and one by one her beautiful birds were dieing and so was her business. It was a awful thing to wittness and that really opened my eyes to how horrible and helpless Mareks makes you. It also opened my eyes that it IS EVERYWHERE! She's not to far from me so I'm certain I likely have it too. From what I understand its every where and really everyone is at risk.

 

[ten chicks]

I have a question regarding Mareks vaccine,i have never had a case of Mareks,but this disease above all others terrifies me the most. If i can get my vet to vaccinate my birds(my only option is a vet,vaccine cannot be shipped to Canada)is it 100% completely safe,i would hate to vaccinate healthy birds and have them contract disease via vaccine.

All the literature on Mareks in Canada,says the vaccine used is a combined turkey Herpes Virus(HVT) and part of the virus for Infectious Laryngotracheitis(ILT) It is called Innovax-ILT. Apparently b/c it does not contain a live virus,it provides birds with life long protection against Marek's and ILT without the "respiratory reactions or spreading of virus that can be associated with the live chicken embryo vaccine". Article then states that "HVT vaccine will not prevent infection with the virus,but will impede development of lymphoma in infected chickens". Is this the same vaccine that is used by those on this forum for older birds?

 

[Haunted55]

I have a question regarding Mareks vaccine,i have never had a case of Mareks,but this disease above all others terrifies me the most. If i can get my vet to vaccinate my birds(my only option is a vet,vaccine cannot be shipped to Canada)is it 100% completely safe,i would hate to vaccinate healthy birds and have them contract disease via vaccine.

All the literature on Mareks in Canada,says the vaccine used is a combined turkey Herpes Virus(HVT) and part of the virus for Infectious Laryngotracheitis(ILT) It is called Innovax-ILT. Apparently b/c it does not contain a live virus,it provides birds with life long protection against Marek's and ILT without the "respiratory reactions or spreading of virus that can be associated with the live chicken embryo vaccine". Article then states that "HVT vaccine will not prevent infection with the virus,but will impede development of lymphoma in infected chickens". Is this the same vaccine that is used by those on this forum for older birds?

If you have birds now that are unvaccinated, then please do get them done. Most of us 'never had a case of Marek's', until we did. It's not worth the chance if you can get them done. The birds can not get Chicken Marek's from the vaccine as it is made from the Turkey Marek's virus. Totally different thing and cannot cross species.

From the things I have read, the vaccine will protect your birds from the simple forms of Marek's including the lymphomas. If they are exposed to a more virulent strain of Marek's, it will keep things in check by impeding the growth of tumors and allow the bird to live a normal life. If by some awful chance they are exposed to a mutated strain...then things can get hairy. The vaccine can protect some, all or sadly even none.

 

[ten chicks]

Thank you for information. All the literature i have read states for day old chicks,i was concerned as mine are not chicks. I will be speaking to my vet about vaccinating my girls/boys.

 

[Nambroth]

I have a question regarding Mareks vaccine,i have never had a case of Mareks,but this disease above all others terrifies me the most. If i can get my vet to vaccinate my birds(my only option is a vet,vaccine cannot be shipped to Canada)is it 100% completely safe,i would hate to vaccinate healthy birds and have them contract disease via vaccine.

All the literature on Mareks in Canada,says the vaccine used is a combined turkey Herpes Virus(HVT) and part of the virus for Infectious Laryngotracheitis(ILT) It is called Innovax-ILT. Apparently b/c it does not contain a live virus,it provides birds with life long protection against Marek's and ILT without the "respiratory reactions or spreading of virus that can be associated with the live chicken embryo vaccine". Article then states that "HVT vaccine will not prevent infection with the virus,but will impede development of lymphoma in infected chickens". Is this the same vaccine that is used by those on this forum for older birds?

I encourage you to read the Vaccination section in this faq: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

The vaccine is completely safe to administer to healthy, non immuno-compromised chickens of any age. They literally can not get Marek's Disease from the serotypes that are used in the vaccinations.
It is unclear if it will help adult birds, but it can not harm them if they are otherwise healthy. It is important to note that it should not be considered to give them the same amount of protection as if they had been properly vaccinated at less than 36 hours old. But, it cannot hurt.

The only vaccine that we can get here in the USA, at the time of writing, via mail order, is MDV-3 Turkey Herpesvirus Marek's vaccine (HVT). The other vaccines that some of the industry (commercial farms and hatcheries) uses are not available to the layperson to buy, here.

Essentially, none of the vaccines prevent infection. They only help to prevent the lympomatic tumors that cause death. The chickens can still become infected and can shed the virus/spread it even if they develop immunity/resistance, either naturally or via vaccination.

 

[seminolewind]

Since the vaccine is supposed to be given a day or two after hatch, and this is because it needs to be given before contact with the virus. If someone does not have the virus, I would assume that it would give them protection as well. Common sense, right?