AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

There is a very intersting article on Mareks in Australiasian Poultry's current edition. Well worth a read as I think it may set off a good discussion here.

Deb where did you get the vacine for mareks
because i want to vacinate my chooks


thanks
Zach

Hi Zach,

Mine came from Intervet in Victoria - but note that it works out quite expensive as it has to be shipped and stored in liquid nitrogen until use. Fort Dodge used to make a vaccine that could be stored in the freezer (or some even in the fridge) but we weren't able to get that one last year. I'll try to find more details later.

Thanks for the help

Zach

I am answering in 2 parts to ensure the emphasis of underlining words
I notice here that no one has actually posted HOW to vaccinate - so - - - -

Vaccinating chicks against Mareks
This is only my personal experience and only to be used as a guide - and using the vaccine I use - I have no 1st hand knowledge of other vaccines

First I have to post a warning due to personal experience =
Warning = be very careful you do not inject yourself as some people are known to have a reaction to the vaccine/diluent – if you do inject yourself and you show any symptoms of reaction = dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, vomiting, instability when walking, difficulty breathing etc etc = go straight to hospital and advise the medical team you have been injected with Poulvac HVT Vaccine for chooks – take an empty container with you if possible – or have someone write down everything on both containers to be given to the medical staff.
If the reaction is extreme and an Ambulance would be faster ring for an Ambulance, which ever way you get there make sure it is the fastest way! Some live in remote areas and it is often faster to meet the Ambulance on the way to the Hospital. If this is the case – ADVISE the emergency service person on the phone that you are in a remote area and that it is urgent the patient gets to hospital and that you ARE driving – advise WHAT HOSPITAL you are driving to - WHAT you are driving including colour – ALONG WHAT ROUTE you are driving and that you will have the HAZARD LIGHTs and HEADLIGHTs on – also advise the approximate closest intersection you would potentially meet the Ambulance at. This way they know YOU are the one they need to transfer the patient from. If needed also ask for a Police escort to meet you en-route. They do not mind helping in these kinds of emergencies, and often have a Highway Patrol vehicle within reasonable distance from you. Word of caution = DO NOT SPEED or you too will need the services of the Hospital after you have crashed.
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Part TWO in next post =
the vaccine - - - -

The Vaccine -
Mareks HVT vaccine – tablet form
All instruments should be as clean as possible run under boiled water at the least preferably sterile
Have a timer with you – set it when you first put the tablet section in the Diluent = you have ONE HOUR ONLY from that moment before it becomes inactive and you need to make more.
For 250 chicks [given time you can easily judge smaller amounts for less chicks]
Preparing the vaccine -
If the Diluent arrives in a 200ml bottle =
Remove the container you are working with from the fridge only as needed and return to the fridge immediately upon use and re-sealing. This is essential.

In a clean glass container place ¼ of the Diluent. Quickly re-seal the bottle using the rubber stopper that was in it and cover the top with 4 layers of Clingwrap and seal tightly with a rubber band. Return the re-sealed Diluent container to the fridge.
Carefully but quickly using a sharp razor blade [the old style] cut the tablet in ¼s and place ¼ in the Diluent place the other pieces IN the original container. Do this quickly and then re-seal the container with the stopper that came with it then cover with Clingwrap the same as the Diluent. Return the re-sealed tablet container to the fridge. Do not worry if the tablet does not break evenly just break it as best as possible into ¼s
Gently ‘swirl’ the container holding the Diluent and the tablet section to mix. Do this regularly throughout the vaccination process until all chicks are done
[note that the Diluent and tablet are viable (remainder able to be used) for one month after opening if sealed well and stored correctly in the fridge] * the Diluent however will cloud and change colour if it goes off sooner and will need to be replaced if this happens – contact with air speeds up the process of ‘going off’ – the tablet will go moist if not sealed correctly and it would then need to be replaced DO NOT USE DRY PACKS TO ABSORB MOISTURE as they bring moisture to the tablet!!!!
To vaccinate -
Hold each chick individually so they are held firmly but comfortably [for you that is] in one hand then inject 0.2ml of the solution JUST UNDER the skin down the side or back of the neck almost running along the skin before injection – be very careful to ensure it is only under the skin and not into muscle – if needed wet the fluff/down first so you can easily see the skin.
Be careful not to push the needle out the other side as obviously you will not vaccinate the chick - however ensure the needle goes in far enough that no liquid comes back out via the injection site as it is injected – if so = re-vaccinate the bird.
Place the bird under heat to recover – word of advise – take the chicks from one ‘box/brooder/incubator’ and place in another one or you will potentially be vaccinating the same chick several times!
Expect to make mistakes until you find the best way to handle the chicks to do the injections.
Also note that there are a number of forms of Mareks and the vaccine covers only 1 – but is believed it can help give protection for other forms

This has been done in a number of exhibition breeders backyards with some degree of success – but it is also believed to be breed specific as a number of breeds are highly susceptible to Mareks in at least one of its forms other breeds to all forms – those breeds closest to the original Jungle Fowl are supposed to be the most resistent

Some of the larger breeds are only now after some 15/20+yrs of breeding this way starting to show signs of resistance in the lines – so ‘technically’ it can be done = all comes back to patience = which I think is the GOLDEN RULE when breeding birds

Thanks heaps for all the info Soozorps...

You are a gem.....

diamond in the rough mate - - - - diamond in the rough
actually - - - -
I saw I read I noticed it wasnt there - so I added it = simple!

anyone else with experience with other forms of the vaccine = PLEASE post here!!!!