Vaccinating question

[theoldchick]

I vaccinate for Mareks.

http://extension.msstate.edu/public...y Control Method,up immunity from the vaccine.

 

[Brown Chick]

I am planning to order new from a hatchery. Thank you so much for the article link that covers it. Vaccination is the way to go.

 

[orrpeople]

I'd also double check w the feed store. They tend to not order vaccinated chicks because it decreases profit margins (which are already pretty small w chicks).

Completely agree - Marek's is everywhere and often dormant even in flocks who've never dealt with an outbreak. A lab necropsy is the only true test of whether a bird dies of Marek's. Often there are comorbidities that combine w the virus to do its damage (sound familiar lately?? Ugh.).

And btw, don't let people tell you they shed virus and make the rest of the flock sick when they're vaccinated. Any that they could shed from the vaccine, which is from a turkey virus, can't be "spread" to chickens.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I don't vaccinate and sell birds. I purchase birds from NPIP breeders that don't vaccinate. Is there a problem with Mereks in my area or more specifically in my flock? No. I believe this "mind set" is what that other breeder adheres to. Biosecurity and knowledge of surrounding area the flock is located. My isolation rules out airborne contamination, other poultry folks don't visit my flock with barn boots and I have complete knowledge and trust of source from which I occasionally obtain new stock.

 

[Painted Calls]

I don't vaccinate and sell birds. I purchase birds from NPIP breeders that don't vaccinate. Is there a problem with Mereks in my area or more specifically in my flock? No. I believe this "mind set" is what that other breeder adheres to. Biosecurity and knowledge of surrounding area the flock is located. My isolation rules out airborne contamination, other poultry folks don't visit my flock with barn boots and I have complete knowledge and trust of source from which I occasionally obtain new stock.

Not vaccinating is fine. Telling someone that Marek's isn't in LA, so therefore it is unnecessary to vaccinate for is not.

 

[Folly's place]

Avoiding Marek's disease, or something like Mycoplasma, involves both careful biosecurity and luck. Many of us weren't as careful as we should have been when starting out with chickens, and were lucky to not have a disaster. It's also important to live where no neighbors have 'random source' flocks of chickens!
We've been careful, and lucky, and have avoided disaster since 1992.
Mary

 

[orrpeople]

I don't vaccinate and sell birds. I purchase birds from NPIP breeders that don't vaccinate. Is there a problem with Mereks in my area or more specifically in my flock? No. I believe this "mind set" is what that other breeder adheres to. Biosecurity and knowledge of surrounding area the flock is located. My isolation rules out airborne contamination, other poultry folks don't visit my flock with barn boots and I have complete knowledge and trust of source from which I occasionally obtain new stock.

Wow - are your birds indoors?