Marek's Immunization for new chicks?

[moongazer]

When you order new chicks do you get the Marek's immunization or not? And if yes or no, can you tell me why?
I've never done it before and never had any problems, but m ordering some new chicks for next week and was wondering if I should or not this time.

[Kathy]

That's a good question; I always paid the extra and had my chicks vaccinated since I did show at some poultry shows and didn't want to take chances with one of my birds picking up something.

Here's the forms that Mareks can take-all of them are pretty bad.

There are four syndromes known to occur after infection with Marek's disease.

These syndromes may overlap.

Classical Marek's disease or neurolymphomatosis causes asymmetric paralysis of one or more limbs. With vagus nerve involvement, difficulty breathing or dilation of the crop may occur.

Acute Marek's disease is an epidemic in a previously uninfected or unvaccinated flock, causing depression, paralysis, and death in a large number of birds (up to 80 percent).

Ocular lymphomatosis causes lymphocyte infiltration of the iris (making the iris turn grey), anisocoria, and blindness.

Cutaneous Marek's disease causes round, firm lesions at the feather follicles.

Vaccination is the only known method to prevent the development of tumors when chickens are infected with the virus.

Poultry vaccinated as chicks will develop immunity within 2 weeks and although they will be immune from developing the disease, they can still pass on the disease to unvaccinated birds.

I hope this helps, I was always pretty cautious with the poultry diseases. I don't know how much they charge to vaccinate now but the last time I ordered 1 day old chicks it was 7 or 10 cents a chick.

[Deleted]

I didn't have mine vaccinated because I was told since it's a live virus, it will always be in the vaccinated birds, so any birds added later will also have to be vaccinated or they'll get it. I don't know how true that is, but since I'm planning on hatching some of my own eggs next year, I didn't want to risk killing them. Plus I'm one of those weirdo anti-vaccination-for-anything people. So you might just look into that and see if it's really true or not, then decide.

~Lannie

[bergere]

It depends on the breed. For the D'uccles you really need the marek's vaccine and it will only work if given right after they hatch.
D'Uccles can have a very high mortality rate with Mareks.
Have always ordered mine with vaccine and have no problems or issues with them or their offspring (offspring on the farm do not get the Marek's vaccine only the ones bought from outside hatcheries).

Have known however, people that haven't and have lost whole flocks to this.
So it just depends on the breed. Some don't need it but some really do.
Not that helps you at all.

[moongazer]

I have some Buff Orps, Rhode Is. Reds, White Leghorns and Barred Rocks coming along with a batch of banties (for my granddaughter who loves visiting a friend of mine who has them running all over.
I've never had my chicks vacinated before and never had any problems.
I too an against unneccessary (and over done) vacinations.
They only charge .12 cents a chick, they do it the morning they're hatched.
I'm not going to be showing or anything like that.
They won't be leaving the property.