Thoughts On Vaccination For Marek's

[AvocadoAbi]

Hey y'all!
So some of you may already know I am hatching chicks, and I have some questions about vaccinating chicks for Marek's-
1. Why SHOULD I vaccinate the chicks?
2. Why should I NOT vaccinate the chicks?
3. If I were to vaccinate them, how much would it cost?
4. If I were to vaccinate them, how would I do that, since I am hatching at home?
I would love any advice on all of these questions!!! As you can probably tell, I'm a complete newbie.

 

[Tervuren]

1) Mareks is everywhere and you can’t avoid it. Unless you are breeding for several generations for resistance you will loose birds. And obviously in the process of breeding for resistance you will loose lots of birds. Mareks has a ton of strains that are highly localized, so if you ever move or sell your birds elsewhere, the birds will not be resistant to the other region’s strain of Mareks.

2) The vaccine is not perfect. Your birds can still get Mareks, they just won’t show many if any symptoms. Now your birds are carriers and can spread it to any birds you have that aren’t vaccinated. Because the virus is spread through dander it can spread a good distance to anyone in your neighborhood with chickens and to wild birds. There is also evidence that because birds are surviving and carrying really dangerous strains of Mareks, that these strains are becoming more prevalent.

3) I believe it is under $100 for a thousand doses… the problem is you can only buy at this volume and once you make the vaccine up it only lasts a few hours… So, while a bottle of it isn’t that expensive if you’re hatching several batches a year it is going to add up and you have a ton of wasted vaccine.

4) I have not vaccinated myself because I don’t hatch. I’ll let others answer how to administer the vaccine.

 

[AvocadoAbi]

Ok so I have a problem (please help!)-
I am probably the WORST person to vaccinate the chicks. I am super nervous around all the "needle" stuff and I could never imagine myself doing something like that.
On the other hand, I don't think we can afford to have a vet vaccinate them, but I know that if we don't, then our birds are likely to get the disease since we have had several "guest" birds who were not vaccinated in our flock, and I'm now thinking my flock has some carriers.
Help wanted! I would love any tips!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Get a friend/family member to do it?

 

[AvocadoAbi]

Get a friend/family member to do it?

Yup that's what I was thinking of...now I'll just have to try to persuade them to do it.

 

[Weeg]

Ok so I have a problem (please help!)-
I am probably the WORST person to vaccinate the chicks. I am super nervous around all the "needle" stuff and I could never imagine myself doing something like that.
On the other hand, I don't think we can afford to have a vet vaccinate them, but I know that if we don't, then our birds are likely to get the disease since we have had several "guest" birds who were not vaccinated in our flock, and I'm now thinking my flock has some carriers.
Help wanted! I would love any tips!!!

Mareks is terrifying. It feels impossible that you will ever be able to avoid it. Overall, the very best way to keep your flock safe is biosecurity. Like mentioned above, the vaccine doesn't keep them from getting it, but just allows them to show little to no symptoms.
I you aren't seeing any symptoms of Mareks in your flock, don't panic. Theres no need to worry if you don't have any reason to. Don't worry until you have to.
Start practicing good biosecurity, and just enjoy your flock. Theres so many disease out there, and despite your best efforts, you may catch one. Just don't let biosecurity take the fun out of poultry keeping. They really are spectacular and beautiful birds, just do your best, and enjoy your flock. Thats about all you can do.
My flock carry's AVL, Avian Leukosis virus. I've lost two birds to it so far. Its a bummer, but After a minute, I realized that the way I love my flock didn't have to change at all. I can still enjoy them, even with the disease.