debbiedoobs Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Hi, some of you lovely people may recognise my user name as I have recently lost one of my silkies to Mareks. My question is, does everyone think vaccinations are for the best? I think so, but I have come across few things online saying that chicks are best to be exposed early so they can build immunity to it. I did hatch one chick last year by one of my broody silkies and so far (touching wood and keeping fingers crossed) we haven't had any problems with her. Also does anyone know where I can get these from? Will my vet be able to get them for me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Hi, yes I do recognise your name, I think I was first to post a reply to your thread about the poor girl that you lost. I think the consensus Is that for small backyard chicken keepers then vaccination are not really needed, only in the commercial setting. There is some fabulous advice on vaccination on the thread "can you believe this" http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=95836#p1275707 Redwings information is exceptional, as per usual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 This is the link for the post that gavclojak is refering to. Very clear explanantion there from Redwing. http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=95836 Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Thanks chrissie, I didn't know how to add the link x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I am against vaccination BUT if you are hatching a batch of Silkies that you will keep as pets and want to ensure they don't develop it I could see why it might be useful Space Chick has done exactly that - I am sure she will spot this and comment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Thanks, really don't know what to do for the best now. I did speak to a breeder last year who also did not believe in them. When I spoke to the vet who gave me the blood test result, he recommended that I vaccinate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 This is a fascinating debate with no firm answer it seems one way or the other. Personally if I was getting a new Silkie I'd try and get one vaccinated against Marks and those I've had have always been vaccinated as they seem so prone to the disease. Other things I don't worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Since Space Chick hasnt seen this I will try to relate what I remember about the vaccination I seem to remember the cost being around £50 for the vaccination itself It can be given up to six weeks after hatch but ideally should be given at day or so old Once opened the vaccination has to be used within not many hours - i think it was something like two hours It was an injection with a tiny needle in to the neck SC found the needle provided was something like you would use to vaccinate a cow and instinctively knew something was wrong so there was a mad rush with chicks and vaccination to vet who produced the correct needle and did the vaccinating I would always recommend an amateur to leave injecting up to the vet which of course is added cost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 I bought 6 cream legbars about 18 months ago, the breeder told me they had all been vaccinated against mareks, this then gave me issues of mixing them in with my unvaccinated welsummers, I didnt. Despite being vaccinated I have still lost 3 of them to mareks, so personally I am now against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 I bought 6 cream legbars about 18 months ago, the breeder told me they had all been vaccinated against mareks, this then gave me issues of mixing them in with my unvaccinated welsummers, I didnt. Despite being vaccinated I have still lost 3 of them to mareks, so personally I am now against. Hmm that sounds pretty convincing in the 'against' camp What breeds, other than the Silkie, are particularly susceptible to Marks and are there certain conditions that make it more likely e.g. free ranging? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Stress is the time that it will rear its head Point of lay is the usual time but things like moulting, moving home, change to pecking order can be critical too There are a few breeds that are prone to it, Sebrights, cream Legbars and Booted Bantams being a few off the top of my head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 God it's an evil illness for the little girls. I'm really swaying for a decision. Thinking along the line of building natural immunity, how does it work? As I've already mentioned, I let one of my broodies sit on some fertilised eggs last year and we got a beautiful lavender hen. So I'm presuming that's the building a natural immunity as she was exposed from the start? So how does it work if I'm hatching in an incubator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbiedoobs Posted January 20, 2014 Author Share Posted January 20, 2014 Does anyone know how the natural immunity works? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
