Question for Breeders re Mareks vaccination and vets

[NapsWithChickens]

I am in my 20th year as a boutique breeder with 7 flocks of chickens. I keep strict bio security measures, vaccinate all my chicks within appropriate protocols, and keep my flock and barn very clean. I am ethical, honest, and supportive in my poultry community.

However, now I am doubting everything I have researched and understood. I need to know what others are doing about this...

I understand that the Mareks vaccination covers chicks into the 90th percentile, but not 100%. I expect a couple of cases of Mareks each year based on the number of chicks I hatch, but I'm seeing an uptick of cases (verified by the local vet). That same vet came out and verified that I am vaccinating correctly with quality vaccine and in the right window of time.

The vet said that chicks need to housed far away from (and upwind) of the poultry barn and chickens. The vet described the need for a "clean room" type of chick housing and handling situation - closed windows, hairnets, changed clothes/shoes, etc.

Is that what you all are doing? My mind boggles - I've never met another breeder of this size farm who does that.

I'm doing something wrong. I want to fix it. Two issues: uptick in Mareks in sold chicks and keeping a "clean room" chick hatching situation.

I do not have a set up like the vet requires... and frankly, I'm upset enough to think I need to get out of chickens altogether.

Suggestions welcome, but please no shaming or criticism. Thank you.

 

[sourland]

Following. Hopefully someone will provide the insight you seek.

 

[Eggcessive]

Unless you have seen Mareks symptoms or positive testing on your own stock, the birds may be getting exposed to Mareks in their new homes or environment. I am no expert on breeding or Mareks, but Mareks symptoms may show up in chicks 5 weeks up to 25 weeks or more commonly. It takes 3 or more weeks after exposure to the Mareks virus for any symptoms to show up.

 

[2ndTink]

I just stumbled across your thread, I don't think my setup is as big as yours but I am happy to share my procedures with my Mareks flock if you're interested?

I have multiple coops (think 10 to 16 chickens per coop) and last year I hatched around 100 chicks, vaccinated, and eventually moved out with the others.

 

[NapsWithChickens]

Yes!

 

[2ndTink]

Yes!

Here's what I do:

I have a room in our basement in the far corner that we hadn't been using for anything. Concrete floor, block walls, nothing fancy. I sweep / vacuum, then mop the floors walls and ceiling with a sanitizer before I pull the incubator out. I wipe down everything in there, all the chick feeders and waterers go through the dishwasher after the room is fully cleaned and returned to the room. Brooders are sanitized and right now I'm using playpens so those are hosed, scrubbed, sanitized and let sit for a bit, then they go through the washing machine and dryer.

The incubator is sanitized, the day before I set eggs and plugged in. Day of, I sanitize all my hatching eggs and take them to the brooder room. All of this is done with clean clothing, if I've been out to the chickens, shower and change clothes before going to your clean area. I have shoes I leave at the door of my brooder room and only those are allowed in there.

Thankfully my husband helps care for my outside chickens while I have chicks, but still, I can't not go out to the coops for 4 months of the year. So, in the morning, I'll care for the chicks, then care for the outside chickens. Come home, care for the outside chickens, shower (don't skip washing your hair), then go to the basement for the chicks. I keep them in quarantine for 6 to 8 weeks before moving them outside.

It's an extra step but it's not impossible. If you had a bigger scale operation, I can see where the ventilation, hair nets, boot covers etc would come in.

 

[Carrot_Mama]

Here's what I do:

I have a room in our basement in the far corner that we hadn't been using for anything. Concrete floor, block walls, nothing fancy. I sweep / vacuum, then mop the floors walls and ceiling with a sanitizer before I pull the incubator out. I wipe down everything in there, all the chick feeders and waterers go through the dishwasher after the room is fully cleaned and returned to the room. Brooders are sanitized and right now I'm using playpens so those are hosed, scrubbed, sanitized and let sit for a bit, then they go through the washing machine and dryer.

The incubator is sanitized, the day before I set eggs and plugged in. Day of, I sanitize all my hatching eggs and take them to the brooder room. All of this is done with clean clothing, if I've been out to the chickens, shower and change clothes before going to your clean area. I have shoes I leave at the door of my brooder room and only those are allowed in there.

Thankfully my husband helps care for my outside chickens while I have chicks, but still, I can't not go out to the coops for 4 months of the year. So, in the morning, I'll care for the chicks, then care for the outside chickens. Come home, care for the outside chickens, shower (don't skip washing your hair), then go to the basement for the chicks. I keep them in quarantine for 6 to 8 weeks before moving them outside.

It's an extra step but it's not impossible. If you had a bigger scale operation, I can see where the ventilation, hair nets, boot covers etc would come in.

Would you mind sharing your favorite sanitizing products? And the playpens? Thank you so much. Very informative post.

 

[2ndTink]

Would you mind sharing your favorite sanitizing products? And the playpens? Thank you so much. Very informative post.

There are good sanitizing options, here are 3 common ones: Odoban, Activated Oxine (must be activated), and Vikron S. The right one for you will depend on cost / availability / application but all three of these are good.

I got the playpens on Amazon, there are some cheaper options that are like octagons with zippered tops, I chose to go with a metal frame style similar to this: https://a.co/d/iBnICUY
They come in different sizes, my breeds that can fly start perching on the top rails after a few weeks, I put painters paper or scrap linoleum on the floor around them for easy clean up.

 

[Carrot_Mama]

There are good sanitizing options, here are 3 common ones: Odoban, Activated Oxine (must be activated), and Vikron S. The right one for you will depend on cost / availability / application but all three of these are good.

I got the playpens on Amazon, there are some cheaper options that are like octagons with zippered tops, I chose to go with a metal frame style similar to this: https://a.co/d/iBnICUY
They come in different sizes, my breeds that can fly start perching on the top rails after a few weeks, I put painters paper or scrap linoleum on the floor around them for easy clean up.

Oh, thank you so much! Ordered a big playpen last night. They are going to be so excited.

 

[2ndTink]

Oh, thank you so much! Ordered a big playpen last night. They are going to be so excited.

Awesome!

I line mine with that thick painters paper or cardboard then put puppy pads over that for the first week before switching to shavings. Without the cardboard or thick paper it can get a bit messy under there