Keeping an unvaccinated (small flock)

[Dimondel]

Currently have three young chicks, ranging from 1 - 10 weeks. I got them off a farm from some people I know to raise them as backyard chickens. Everything’s gone pretty well so far apart from my oldest being unusually clumsy. They all get along quite well. The youngest is the boss. They haven’t been vaccinated, and I just want to know if there’s any affordable ways to prevent the spread of disease, or any options I have for getting such a small group vaccinated. Suggestions are very welcome. I’m new to chicken owning, so I’m sorry if this is a silly question.

 

[K0k0shka]

Do you mean for Marek's? There is no prevention other than the vaccine. It's carried by wild birds, which you have no control over. Chicks are usually vaccinated right after hatch, but not because there's a magical time. Only because the vaccine is most effective if administered before the body has come into contact with the virus. So, to be safe, people vaccinate them when they are young and before they go outside. However, if there has been no Marek's in the environment where these chickens lived (and where they live now with you), they'll be like babies - "clean", so you can still give them the shot. If they are indeed clean, then they'll develop immunity from the vaccine and will be protected going forward. If they aren't "clean" and have come into contact with the virus at some point, the vaccine won't hurt them at all - it will do nothing. And if the chickens are still alive and healthy, it means that if they did at some point get infected, and did not get sick or die, then they'll be fine anyway. Infection lasts forever and they'll be carriers forever, but not all chickens actually show symptoms. They can be asymptomatic carriers and do just fine. The vaccine won't remove the virus from their systems, it will do nothing. If you do, however, want to get more chickens in the future, it would be best to get them vaccinated before they are exposed to your current chickens, and to keep them indoors for 2 weeks post vaccination to let them develop immunity. If yours are carriers, they can pass the virus on to the new chickens, and while they themselves will be fine, there is no guarantee for the chickens they pass it to. Some percentage of chickens get very sick and even die, and there's no way for you to know how your new chickens will react to the virus. It's hard to know if your current chickens have been infected or not (there are some places that do testing on live birds, but they're hard to find). So, you have two options: 1) do nothing and accept the risk that they may some day get infected and die, or 2) vaccinate them now and give them the possibility of protection. #2 is better safe than sorry, #1 is accepting a risk. Depends on what you're comfortable doing. I don't like taking unnecessary risks myself, so I vaccinate all my animals (and kids). I order the Marek's vaccine from Meyer Hatchery. It's not hard to administer, there are instructions on the label and lots of helpful information, pictures and videos on the internet. Unfortunately there's no convenient small quantity for backyard chickens - only the large quantities for commercial use, but that's just how it is.

 

[Dimondel]

Do you mean for Marek's? There is no prevention other than the vaccine. It's carried by wild birds, which you have no control over. Chicks are usually vaccinated right after hatch, but not because there's a magical time. Only because the vaccine is most effective if administered before the body has come into contact with the virus. So, to be safe, people vaccinate them when they are young and before they go outside. However, if there has been no Marek's in the environment where these chickens lived (and where they live now with you), they'll be like babies - "clean", so you can still give them the shot. If they are indeed clean, then they'll develop immunity from the vaccine and will be protected going forward. If they aren't "clean" and have come into contact with the virus at some point, the vaccine won't hurt them at all - it will do nothing. And if the chickens are still alive and healthy, it means that if they did at some point get infected, and did not get sick or die, then they'll be fine anyway. Infection lasts forever and they'll be carriers forever, but not all chickens actually show symptoms. They can be asymptomatic carriers and do just fine. The vaccine won't remove the virus from their systems, it will do nothing. If you do, however, want to get more chickens in the future, it would be best to get them vaccinated before they are exposed to your current chickens, and to keep them indoors for 2 weeks post vaccination to let them develop immunity. If yours are carriers, they can pass the virus on to the new chickens, and while they themselves will be fine, there is no guarantee for the chickens they pass it to. Some percentage of chickens get very sick and even die, and there's no way for you to know how your new chickens will react to the virus. It's hard to know if your current chickens have been infected or not (there are some places that do testing on live birds, but they're hard to find). So, you have two options: 1) do nothing and accept the risk that they may some day get infected and die, or 2) vaccinate them now and give them the possibility of protection. #2 is better safe than sorry, #1 is accepting a risk. Depends on what you're comfortable doing. I don't like taking unnecessary risks myself, so I vaccinate all my animals (and kids). I order the Marek's vaccine from Meyer Hatchery. It's not hard to administer, there are instructions on the label and lots of helpful information, pictures and videos on the internet. Unfortunately there's no convenient small quantity for backyard chickens - only the large quantities for commercial use, but that's just how it is.

I see. Thank you so much for your input. You’ve given me a heap of helpful information. Thanks

 

[K0k0shka]

I see. Thank you so much for your input. You’ve given me a heap of helpful information. Thanks

You're welcome. Good luck!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Agree, I've given birds I got from outside sources Mareks vaccine as old as 6 weeks. Might be pointless at that age, but then again might not be. You can also get Mareks vaccine online from Valley Vet and Jeffers Pet. Has to be kept refrigerated.
Some good You Tube videos out there on how to administer.

 

[Alaskan]

One thing to remember though...

The Marek's vaccine isn't a full vaccine like the polio vaccine.

With the Marek' vaccine, they can still get the disease, and spread the disease, but they are very unlikely to get sick or die from the disease.

None of my birds have ever been vaccinated... but then I never go to poultry swaps, etc. So my place is biosecure from other domestic poultry.

I do get poultry lice maybe once a year from wild birds.... but I haven't gotten Mareks. (Not saying it isn't a risk.... but I have no idea about what the risk is).

 

[Folly's place]

Biosecurity is so very important! Marek's disease is one issue, but there are others, and we've managed to avoid problems here, through both good luck and being paranoid.
Chicks from hatcheries we always have vaccinated against Marek's, and chicks raised by broody hens here are not. So far no sick chickens have had Marek's disease, a good indication that it's not here.
We have no near neighbors with chickens,; the very worst case would be folks with random source birds bringing in diseases.
We don't get birds from other flocks, ever.
When I take birds to the local auction, visit another flock, or watch a poultry show, everything goes in the laundry when I get home!
Barn shoes and boots stay here, and 'normal' footwear gets washed, and not worn at the coop.
None of this is intuitive, read up on biosecurity before you risk a disaster.
Mary

 

[Mrs. K]

I have never vaccinated mine. But I have also several friends that have chickens, and no one has mentioned either vaccination or the disease. I too, do not go to poultry swaps or auctions, but I have brought in birds raised like my own.

Mrs K