Vaccinating for Marek's

[duluthralphie]

I just vaccinated for Marak's yesterday. I have never done this before.

I had a bad summer fighting the disease we all have and most do not recognize.

Marak's is not transmitted vertically, strictly horizontally through dander. Please keep this in mind. It is important to know.

The instructions will tell you the vaccine must be used on day old chicks or on embyros in the egg. This is done-----in my opinion----- to give the manufacture of the vaccine an out in case the chicks die they cannot be sued.

My research shows the vaccine is effective at any age. PROVIDED the bird has not come in contact with the herpes virus responsible for Maraks. The vaccine needs 10 days to work it's magic.


The vaccine is not the live Marak's disease and cannot bring Marak's into your flock. Trust me Maraks is there already. It is everywhere. It can be transmitted on shoes, clothing, the wind and stays alive for long periods in the soil. The USDA and state vets tell me all flocks have it whether they show signs of it or not.


I got tired of watching my best young-----show birds----- die or get sickly at 2-4 months of age. Many birds recover but they are not the same afterwards. I feel the recovered birds help with a natural inbred resistance to the disease and if I was just raising a layer flock, I would let nature do its job and weed out the weak.

When buying the vaccine get it early in the hatching process, know the postal service will ruin a few bottles. I had to order the vaccine 3 times to get one bottle here in good shape. The first bottle the post office ruined by leaving in the mailbox in 95 degree weather. The second they decided to try to deliver to my home, but refused to get out of the vehicle because my dog was in the yard. They also failed to leave a notice so it sat at room temperatures for a week. The last bottle came UPS, I got it the next day.

Keep the bottle in the fridge.

We found a few syringes with extremely small needles-----we used 26 ga 5/8 inch long.

When giving the shot the base of the neck works best. Wetting the fluff at the base of the neck works best. Then gently parting the fluff to expose the skin. Insert the needle at the base of the neck, lifting the the skin slightly, go under skin about 3/8 of an inch like when a person receives a TB mantoux test. Then inject the solution.

Be sure the vaccine stays under the skin. Be very careful you do not go completely through the skin and come out the back/topside. You will be able to tell as the vaccine will not bubble the skin but you will see the drop of vaccine on the surface of the skin.

I am thinking about trying baby oil next time to wet the feathers and separate them, however, I have to think about that and what if I get the oil under the skin.

You will only have an hour from the time you mix the vaccine until it is worthless. The local vet told me he thinks you can get 2 hours or so out of it. This should not be an issue most time as my wife and I did 50 some chicks in about 15 minutes.

Anyone else done this and have suggestions?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Very helpful post.
The recommendation for day old vaccination, like you noted, is because it is in a race with the strains in the atmosphere to create resistance.

 

[Folly's place]

I hope you can improve the health of your flock! All the best. I always have any chicks I order vaccinated, but don't vaccinate any chicks hatched here. So far, so good, in my very isolated flock.
Mary

 

[duluthralphie]

I forgot to mention to give these chicks the best chance possible I am raising them for the next 2 weeks in my basement next to my incubators. It is an area I disinfect often and no mature bird has ever touched.

I use only disinfected feeders and waterers. There is always a chance the virus could enter the house or basement, but I do my best to keep it out. I never wear shoes down the stairs and try to make sure I have clean clothes on when going down there. Of course, some of you know how anal I am about germs in my hatchers and incubators which makes this the perfect place for them to be raised.

 

[casportpony]

I like rubbing alcohol for wetting feather, so maybe try that next?

 

[duluthralphie]

I shall try that...

 

[GardenTillers44]

Thanks for the post @duluthralphie.
We have chicks hatching next week and want to vaccinate against Marek's. I was hoping to find a post like this on BYC to help me through the process. We lost 3 pullets last summer and took them to the state lab where they confirmed Marek's lesions in the brain and legs. After studying everything we could about the disease, we have increased our biosecurity and cleaning habits and have had no further trouble. But I know it will surface again, just a matter of time.

 

[GardenTillers44]

I am raising them for the next 2 weeks in my basement next to my incubators. It is an area I disinfect often and no mature bird has ever touched.

Glad you mentioned this...We are converting an unused spare room at the back of our house to a rearing room for the time being. Clean and never had any contact with poultry or shoes on the floor, it looks the part. Ordered vaccine & syringes last night, should see chicks hatching early next week. These will be the first chicks we have raised from eggs, always bought pullets or inherited freebies from the neighbors. We have been trying to learn all we can in preparation, what is your preferred first food for the chicks and do you do any other disease prevents such as cocci?

 

[duluthralphie]

Glad you mentioned this...We are converting an unused spare room at the back of our house to a rearing room for the time being. Clean and never had any contact with poultry or shoes on the floor, it looks the part. Ordered vaccine & syringes last night, should see chicks hatching early next week. These will be the first chicks we have raised from eggs, always bought pullets or inherited freebies from the neighbors. We have been trying to learn all we can in preparation, what is your preferred first food for the chicks and do you do any other disease prevents such as cocci?

We use human insulin needles and syringes. The livestock/bird ones were too big and clumsy for a day old chick.

Also I leave the chicks in a sterile (non-adult bird ever area) until they are a week old to give the vaccine a chance to work.

the longer time before the birds come in contact with the herpes virus the better. There are no guarantees but give them every chance you can to become immune.

 

[GardenTillers44]

Got insulin syringes with 25 Ga. 5/8" needles. Spare room is sterile from chicken presence and we will clean it again introducing chicks. We have no problem keeping them in there for a couple weeks.