Can I vaccinate chicks after 24 hours?

[lillykew]

Hello all! Please let me know if this is better posted elsewhere.

I'm ordering chicks from a small farm that doesn't vaccinate their birds. They go to great lengths to keep their flocks isolated and free of disease, including making sure they don't come in contact with wild birds. However, the birds I ordered from them will be together with birds from other hatcheries and so I think it will be safer to vaccinate them after I get them.

My question is, will the vaccine still work if it's administered when the chicks are a few days old? Does anyone else have experience ordering birds from a farm that doesn't vaccinate or an organic hatchery?

Thanks in advance!

 

[coach723]

Depends on what you are vaccinating for. Some vaccines are given at a day old, some are given later.

 

[lillykew]

Depends on what you are vaccinating for. Some vaccines are given at a day old, some are given later.

I want to vaccinate for marek's disease; I know it's usually given within 24 hours but I don't think I'll be able to get the chicks that quickly

 

[coach723]

For that vaccine they are supposed to be vaccinated within 24 hours of hatch and they have to be isolated from any contact with the virus for at least two weeks. If they come into contact with the virus before the vaccine has a chance to take effect, it will not be effective. The vaccine, at least last time I looked, only comes in vials for large numbers of birds, usually 1000 doses, so many find it to not be worth paying for for a small flock. Once the vaccine is mixed it has to be used within a 1-2 hours.
I don't know how informed you are about the vaccine. When effective, it does not stop the birds from contracting the virus, or from spreading it, it only reduces the mortality from it, stops the formation of the tumors. I'm not advising for or against vaccinating your birds for it, but make sure you understand how it actually works. That way you can make an informed decision.

 

[lillykew]

I didn't realize it would be difficult to get just a couple doses of the vaccine. I understand how it works, that's part of why I want to do it. The other birds I want to get are vaccinated for it, which means an unvaccinated bird would be likely to catch it from them.

 

[2ndTink]

From what I have read, you can vaccinate after 24 hours, I'm unclear on how the chick's immune response to the vaccine differs in the first 24 hours vs the next few days.

Just to clarify on your comment, a vaccinated chick will not have Mareks from the vaccine and pass the vaccine Mareks to another chick. But if a vaccinated chicken contracts the virus from another bird or the environment, they can pass that to unvaccinated birds.

If you already have Mareks in your environment, then yes, vaccinated and unvaccinated chicks would all be exposed to it, and the unvaccinated would be at higher risk of Mareks Disease (paralysis, tumors etc).

 

[coach723]

I think the reason that they are vaccinated in the first 24 hours is to minimize any chance they are exposed to the virus first, before vaccination. The longer you wait, the greater the chance they could be exposed. There are too many variables to make one right answer to the question of whether it would be effective after that period. In a back yard flock, if Marek's were present in that flock, and you are caring for them, then it would be extremely difficult to keep the chicks completely isolated for the period of time needed for the vaccine to take. It's incredibly easy to carry it everywhere on clothing, shoes, equipment, and it moves in the dust in the air. The wind can carry it miles. I don't think it would HURT them to do it later, but it might not be effective and that's your choice based on effort and cost, whether to do that.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My question is, will the vaccine still work if it's administered when the chicks are a few days old?

Scroll down to the headline.. "vaccines" in the following link to see one take on the subject.. It discusses sero-types and also timing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Does anyone else have experience ordering birds from a farm that doesn't vaccinate or an organic hatchery?

Yes, many of us who breed our chickens may prefer to breed towards resistance and or immunity.. or at least *think* that's what we're doing.

Additionally none of the feed stores in my location order their chicks vaccinated against anything. I've gotten several chicks from them throughout the years.. and also even ordered unvaccinated chicks from hatcheries that do offer the vaccine. Since the vaccine just hides symptoms but does not prevent the disease, I would rather know if something presents itself than pretend, also noting that some birds may be carrying it and still never show symptoms (so maybe I still don't know anything, but those would be the birds that would be bred for "resistance"). If you know Marek's is in your area or if it may be a more viralant strain, and if you're not breeding, then it might be worth the effort.

Best wishes with your new babies!

 

[lillykew]

Thank you to everyone for your responses! After reading your responses and also this article from the APA, I think my conclusion is I'm not going to worry about it.

With bird flu going around I wanted to try to be extra cautious, but it seems like it isn't necessary. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond!