Marek's vaccination

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:19 pm

Hi everyone.

I have just completed my very first vaccination of chicks for Marek's Disease (controversial, I know - but this is just an explanation of method, not a call for everyone to do it

).

I was lucky enough to get a smaller than usual quantity of unmixed vaccine earlier in the year and vaccinated my home-bred chicks today.

The vaccine comes in a pellet form, which needs to be refrigerated, with a separate dilutent which is kept at room temperature. Once the pellet is mixed with the dilutent it needs to be used pretty much immediately so I had the chicks ready to go and then mixed it up.

The vaccine is delivered via subcutaneous (under the skin) injection (I used little insulin needles) at a dose rate of 0.2ml per chick. I have seen it done in the back of the neck (by breeders) and into the leg (by a vet) and chose the leg as that seemed the safest for a novice to aim at. A couple of sooky ones chirped a bit but as it was just under the skin I don't think it was too big a deal for them.

The chicks I get from the hatchery are vaccinated before I pick them up, and I choose to vaccinate the ones that I breed at home so that they are all done. I keep the chicks separated until such time as the vaccine does its job.

As I am not a vet, the above information is purely an account of my own experiences. :-D

Deb

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

How old are your chicks when you do it? I only ask because I've been told that they needs to be less than 24 hours old for the vaccine to be effective.

debbieo4914 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:24 pm

Hi eggsalive - ideally yes, they should be done when day-old. My oldest are a week old as I was waiting for the last ones to hatch.

If I do vaccinate at home again I will co-ordinate my hatches a bit better so that they can be done when one day old, however I am more likely to have my eggs hatched at the hatchery where they are done within the first 24 hours of life and so provide as much protection as possible. Much easier and only 30 cents per chick.

Deb :-D

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

It sounds easier. That's the trouble I've always had. I've considered getting the vaccine, but I can never organise everything to be hatched within a very short range of time, or even on the same day sometimes. I've been told the the hatcheries do it while the chick is still in the egg to get around the problem.

County Lodge · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:59 pm

Good on you Deb. I wish we could all get the small doses to enable us to do our home flock. Maybe we should loby our federal members to push DPI to do something about it.

Penola Poultry · **Posted:** Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:07 am

I take mine to local hatchery and they vaccinate for Mareks and fowl pox for 50c a chick. It no hassles, easy and painfree....for me, not the chicks. He says that day old is the best timing but up to a week is ok.

Lou · **Joined:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:12 am **Posts:** 387

I think I would probably vacc mine if small lots where available, I don't know anyone who has a chook farm or such.

Just curious & I don't want to hi jack this tread but why do they have to be done so young? I know with the dogs they are suposed to be done to cover when the immunity from the mother runs out. But for an example you can still get a dog that has never been vacc at 3 years of age take it to vet & get it vacc & it will be protected, whats different with chooks :?:

greenaus · **Posted:** Mon Oct 20, 2008 1:47 pm

I'm not saying you were off-topic, but by replying I thought I might be, so I have started a new thread.

Why chickens are vaccinated while very young

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