Purchasing chicks from different sources

[Organic Gal]

The best I can tell "leaky" is talking about if a chicken is vaccinated it can still get the disease and spread it, but will not die. The way I read that first linked article it implies that all chickens that get Marek's will die and stop spreading the disease. That's not true, Marek's rarely kills or cripples a majority of a flock. Many birds in a infected flock will live and do well, yet they also have it and can spread it. If a flock has Marek's they are all leaky, whether they are vaccinated or not.

Thanks for the links @igorsMistress I thought they may be talking about a new vaccine. I don't think so. It looks like it is still the Turkey Marek's. They vaccinate the chicks with turkey Marek's when they are babies and before they come into contact with any chickens that may be infected with Marek's. It takes a few weeks for the turkey Marek's to take effect so the chicks need to stay isolated from other chickens for a while. Getting chick's vaccinated would not work for me because my brooder is in the coop and the chicks immediately come into contact with my adults. That doesn't even consider the broody-raised chicks.

Since they use Turkey Marek's the vaccine does not give them Marek's and does not make them carriers. They cannot infect any other chicken because of the vaccine. The only way they can get Marek's is from a different source.

Whether or not a chicken is vaccinated, if they come into contact with a chicken Marek's virus, they can become infected and become carriers. If they have been vaccinated they will not develop the lesions that cause the harm. If they have not been vaccinated some will develop lesions, some will not. That's a point that many people miss. Many chickens that contract Marek's never show any symptoms and continue to thrive. Some flocks have a high tolerance for Marek's. Some people with Marek's in their flock breed the survivors in an attempt to develop a flock highly resistant to the effects of Marek's.

I personally never vaccinate for Marek's. Knowing what is involved and with the way I raise them it would do no good. I practice a closed flock and have never had any cases of Marek's. If I ever get Marek's in my flock I'll have some decisions to make. Do I stop using broody hens, use an incubator or mail order chicks and vaccinate them, and brood them in strict isolation from the flock to give the vaccine time to take effect. Or do I live with it, cull the ones that develop symptoms, and try to breed a more Marek's resistant flock. In my opinion there are cases where vaccinating makes sense.

@Organic Gal I hope all this has not scared you off from trying chickens. Any time you deal with living animals you run the risk of disease, parasites, or predators whether that is chickens, horses, cats, or goldfish. To me that does not mean you should avoid them but the more you can learn about what the risks are and how to manage them the better.

Hoover is an established hatchery. I'd consider their chicks as safe as any you can get. I don't know if Hoover automatically vaccinates their chicks for Marek's. Most hatcheries don't. It costs money to vaccinate the chicks and hatcheries generally charge extra for that.

Good luck and enjoy the experience.

Thank you for your comment. I think I will not get chicks vaccinated.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you for your comment. I think I will not get chicks vaccinated.

Make sure to check with each store that that is what they have available. Some stores will only carry vaccinated chicks.

 

[Organic Gal]

Make sure to check with each store that that is what they have available. Some stores will only carry vaccinated chicks.

Thanks I will. Tractor Supply did tell me they didn't

 

[aart]

I doubt many 'farm stores' pay for vaccinated chicks.

Thank you for your response. I had planned on getting them the same day so they would be around the same age.

That should be fine then.

Most years TSC uses three different hatcheries. Can you imagine how many chicks that is! That has to be a nice contract.

Depends on the local strores, I thin they try to get them form closer hatcheries.

My TSC is getting them 3/2 but I bet not all of them get them on 3/2.

My local TSC already had them....no clue where they got them, didn't ask cause not buying.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I doubt many 'farm stores' pay for vaccinated chicks.

All the small stores near me order vaccinated chicks only. TSC probably doesn't but that's a bit further away.

 

[aart]

All the small stores near me order vaccinated chicks only.

Vaccinated for Mareks?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Vaccinated for Mareks?

Yup. Probably the only way to get non-Marek's vaccinated chicks from a smaller feed store here is to do a special order.

 

[chickencoop57]

I am going to purchase about 8-10 chicks in a week or so and I was thinking of purchasing them from two different sources. A local feed store and Tractor Supply are close to me so I thought I would get some chicks from each as they offer different breeds. Is that advisable? Should all the chicks come from the same hatchery to ensure no health issues?

I bought my first 6 chicks at a Tractor Supply, 3 Rhode Island Reds and 3 Leghorns and theyre doing well and are my best layers.

 

[Chickenclaude]

TSC has healthy flock where I live. Just pay the extra $ to have the chicks sexed...out of 15 chicks I had darn nearly half roosters. Live and learn.

 

[dirkandlorie]

You say you want 8-10 chicks, but my tractor supply sells them at a minimum of 6. Same thing at Stockdales. Will the other provider sell you just 2-4 chicks? Calling both places might help.