Nugget's necropsy results

[chicknmania]

Also, Lonecowboy made the comment about something to sterilize the dirt. I was told by a lot of people who know to use lime to sterilize the dirt in our barn; you have to rototill it in, and while you're doing that, the chickens can't be in there; the limehas to dissapear. We were a little afraid to try this, and it really wasn't practical for the way our place is laid out,although I'm sure it works. We did, however, soak everything we could reach with Oxine, including misting it on the chickens themselves. I'm sure it helped a lot. I don't know enough about Marek's to know if it would work for that, but I think it might be worth a try, if you want to. Good luck.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Hi Carrie, here is the link to my collected articles on Mareks , LL, ALV and other oncogenic disease viruses... :aww
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=linksgeneralinfo&action=display&num=1161855136

 

[gritsar]

Carri, I am not trying to hijack your thread, but this is on topic. I just thought I would add here: I talked to my SO this morning about whether or not I should get my future chicks vaccinated against Marek's. McMurray recommends it. Ideal, who I'm going to order from, doesn't recommend it for small backyard flocks.
I am taking into consideration that we are in fairly close proximity to multiple commercial chicken houses. My first thought was oh! I better b/c of all the commercial houses. Then my 2nd thought was, why? when I'm sure all the com. chickens have been (vaccinated). My SO's opinion is that I should have them vaccinated. It's inexpensive and I value his advice since he does have years of experience with the commercial houses. I think your experience is the final factor in me deciding that I should vaccinate.

Does anyone know of any harm that comes from the vaccine?

 

[speckledhen]

The vaccine results in carriers of Mereks-they can pass the disease to your unvaccinated flock. I have unvaccinated birds, so I will never buy vaccinated ones.

This is the only harm, the vaccine being a live vaccine. You would have to vaccinate every single bird from here on out since all your vaccinated ones would be carriers, unless I'm completely misunderstanding this.

This may help you some:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS030

It contains the following paragraph:

Marek's disease vaccine is usually administered to chickens at the hatchery on the day of hatch. It is given subcutaneously (under the skin) at the back of the neck. It is best to order chicks already vaccinated at the hatchery.
It has been demonstrated that the vaccine only prevents the appearance of Marek's disease tumors and paralysis. It does not prevent the birds from becoming infected with and shedding the Marek's virus.

Chickens 2 to 16 weeks of age (prior to sexual maturity) are susceptible to Marek's disease. While Marek's disease can occasionally occur in pheasants, quail, game fowl, and turkeys, these poultry species do not normally receive Marek's vaccinations.​

 

[jeaucamom]

So... if we have bought hatchery birds in the past and am now hatching our own.. does that mean we have to vaccinate the newborns? Or is this immunity passed from parent to offspring?

 

[hooligan]

You would have to vaccinate the new hatchlings, from now on.

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Probably like human vaccines - the immunity is "fake" and does not pass on, it probably wears off after a time as well.

 

[jeaucamom]

So even if we are not hatching eggs from our own chickens.. we need to vaccinate right?? Where would you get the vaccine? And do all hatcheries vaccinate or do we need to find out if our birds have already been vaccinated??

Do all of you vaccinate?

 

[speckledhen]

You have to ask the hatchery to vaccinate your chicks if you want it done and pay extra for it. And I myself have never vaccinated my chickens for anything. The problem you have is when you buy chickens from other people, you may not always know if they've been vaccinated and for what. That is one reason I basically keep a closed flock and don't buy grown birds nor do I get them from a hatchery.

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
So you only get your breeding stock via eggs? Ugh... I just don't know what to do. I think I'll have to just close the flock, too. I do have two birds waiting to come to me... I'll have to think about what I'm going to do.

I talked to the vet and he said I could vaccinate if I want, but he's not sure what good it will do. He gave me a phone number to call since he's not too experienced with MD.