Should I vaccinate for Marek's

[bjklemm]

We are getting chicks and our flock will be less than 10 birds. Should I vaccinate for such a small flock? Any advice appreciated as we are newbies!

 

[BantamLover21]

Where are you getting chicks from? Most hatcheries will vaccinate the chicks for you, which is much easier than doing it on your own. I would personally vaccinate your flock, as the Marek's disease virus is everywhere. It is one of the worst diseases a chicken can get--it slowly paralyzes them, and there is no completely effective treatment. I, for one, would never want to have to watch my chickens suffer through such an awful disease.

 

[bjklemm]

We are getting them from Ideal Poultry Hatchery.

 

[casportpony]

Pay the extra money and have them vaccinated for Marek's.

-Kathy

 

[schnebbles]

YES! I had 8 chickens and they weren't vaccinated. One died and I will never know if it was mareks. I should have had a necropsy. Now I worry about my others. I wish I'd thought more about it. Now, either my birds have it or they don't and I won't know unless I have more that get sick.

 

[cafarmgirl]

It's well worth it no matter how small your flock. My flock is always somewhere between 10 and 20 birds, all are vaccinated for Marek's.