Should i vaccinate my 5 month old birds for Mareks?

[hoosierhens101]

I am pretty sure one of my 6 month old pullets has Mareks. She was hatched here but I do not have a closed flock as I introduce and adult hen and rooster 2 years ago. I am hatching eggs this week and bought the vaccine for the day old chicks. Is there any benefit to vaccinating my older flock. They range in age from 5 months to two years old. No one else is sick

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The Marek's vaccine is used for 1 day olds.

The chicks need to be quarantined for 2-3 weeks to allow their immune system to kick in and you will need to follow strict bio-security measures to ensure they are not exposed to anything your birds have (by you, your clothes, shoes, equipment, dust/dander, etc.).

Can you do that? I know I probably wouldn't be able to.


https://www.drugs.com/vet/marek-s-disease-vaccine-hvt.html
""This vaccine is recommended for in ovo vaccination of 18- to 19-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. For in ovo vaccination, only healthy embryonated eggs should be used. This vaccine is also recommended for subcutaneous vaccination of healthy one-day-old chickens. It is essential that the chickens be maintained under good environmental conditions and that exposure to disease viruses be reduced as much as possible. ""

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[hoosierhens101]

The Marek's vaccine is used for 1 day olds.

The chicks need to be quarantined for 2-3 weeks to allow their immune system to kick in and you will need to follow strict bio-security measures to ensure they are not exposed to anything your birds have (by you, your clothes, shoes, equipment, dust/dander, etc.).

Can you do that? I know I probably wouldn't be able to.


https://www.drugs.com/vet/marek-s-disease-vaccine-hvt.html
""This vaccine is recommended for in ovo vaccination of 18- to 19-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. For in ovo vaccination, only healthy embryonated eggs should be used. This vaccine is also recommended for subcutaneous vaccination of healthy one-day-old chickens. It is essential that the chickens be maintained under good environmental conditions and that exposure to disease viruses be reduced as much as possible. ""

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Thanks for the information. I will do my best.

 

[hoosierhens101]

The Marek's vaccine is used for 1 day olds.

The chicks need to be quarantined for 2-3 weeks to allow their immune system to kick in and you will need to follow strict bio-security measures to ensure they are not exposed to anything your birds have (by you, your clothes, shoes, equipment, dust/dander, etc.).

Can you do that? I know I probably wouldn't be able to.


https://www.drugs.com/vet/marek-s-disease-vaccine-hvt.html
""This vaccine is recommended for in ovo vaccination of 18- to 19-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. For in ovo vaccination, only healthy embryonated eggs should be used. This vaccine is also recommended for subcutaneous vaccination of healthy one-day-old chickens. It is essential that the chickens be maintained under good environmental conditions and that exposure to disease viruses be reduced as much as possible. ""

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

I talked to a poultry veterinarian at Purdue. And she advised to go ahead and vaccinate the older birds as the vaccine is very safe and they really don't know whether or not it would help protect the older birds . Since you have to buy 1000 doses and use it within an hour she said it won't hurt

 

[Ida Red]

Hoosierhens101, did you end up vaccinating your older chickens? I’ve lost 3 chickens in my unvaccinated flock, to what appears to be mareks. I’m wondering if the vaccine might help, since it sounds like it can’t hurt. My birds are all 4 months old.