cluckingmad Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Morning all Yesterday picked up three lovely new girls, who are currently in quarantine till we know they're all fine. They're not vaccinated, whereas our current 10 ladies are fully done (omlet and wernlas girls). Question: Will it be ok mixing the two groups? I know that some of the vaccines used are live/attenuated, so not sure if hteres a risk that the vaccinated girls may be 'contagious'?! (omlet girls over 1 yr with us, Wernlas girls we've had 4 weeks, so are now 18wks old) Also, don't know if the new ladies have been wormed - is there any riskl of worming them with flubenvet NOW, just in case they've onyl recently been done? Carolyn x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I have mixed both before and it's been fine. I'd always suggest that any new birds are wormed and treated for lice/mites before you integrate them with your flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Ditto to all Claret's post....I always keep new hens apart for at least a week too, in case they are brewing any illnesses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I believe there is a risk with the Mareks vaccine but I can't find the reference when I need it. I read on another forum a couple of years ago where a poultry keeper had a problem with Mareks occuring in her flock after she introduced vaccinated hybrids to supplement her egg laying pure breeds. The issue is that the vaccine masks the virus but it is still shed, so if a vaccinated bird has it, you wouldn't necessarily know and un-vaccinated birds would succumb to the disease. From memory she did a lot of research on the subject after losing a lot her stock and I know she warned against mixing. However, not every vaccinated bird will infect every un-vaccinated bird, so there is no need to panic, I just wanted to say that it isn't always 100% problem free. I've done it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Mareks is underlying in most flocks at a minor level, it really only attacks sick or ailing birds. I once lost a girl to it when she was especially low after moulting, it was very quick and I despatched her once I realised what it was. None of the other birds were affected. Mine are all pure breeds, so not vaccinated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Mareks is underlying in most flocks at a minor level, it really only attacks sick or ailing birds. Gosh that's not something I've heard before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 It's a herpes virus, which lies dormant and will surface (like when we get cold sores or shingles) when the immune system is compromised. General malaise quickly leads to paralysis and once they go off their legs, they can die in an hour or two. It really isn't very common at all, but if you're girls are weak or unwell during a moult, then dose them up on poultry tonic in the water and some Citricidal too. My chicken vet is the country's leading poultry expert and we had a long chat about Mareks when my girl succumbed. Non-vaccinated poultry quickly builds up a natural immunity to the underlying viruses and bacteria around. This is why we always recommend isolating new birds first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Mareks is underlying in most flocks at a minor level, it really only attacks sick or ailing birds. Gosh that's not something I've heard before! I've heard the same, that and Myco Someone came under criticism on another forum (quite rightly I think) for asking for Mareks treatment advice whilst on the same forum advertising birds for sale, it was pointed out that Mareks is present in most flocks in different levels anyway (though it was accepted that it was not the wisest thing to sell birds while in the middle of an outbreak!) Personally I have a mix of vaccinated and non vaccinated hens, I try to keep them healthy and must admit that beyond that I do not think too hard about the vaccination issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Yep I knew about Myco and I know what Mareks is too, I've just never heard or read anywhere that it's dormant in most flocks. You live and learn eh. The person I mentioned had done her research too and she came down on the side of only keeping vaccinated birds. I don't necessarily agree with her, well I can't really as none of mine are vaccinated, but then it's only likely to be the mass-hatched hybrids that are, or those of a susceptible breed from specialist breeders. Even then, many of them don't vaccinate, saying they prefer to breed for resistance. Interesting subject though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 Interesting, thanks all I'm an immunologist and do research so it just shows that you always have new things to learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
