Equipment and supplies to vaccinate chicks for Marek’s
This is a reference list for my use, but sharing it with others seems like a great idea as well.
Specialized equipment and supplies
Updated prices as of August 2024. These are the best prices I could find. With shipping considerations you might find some are cheaper at other places.
- Vaccinator gun $42.99 (need 1)
- Needles for injecting vaccine $9.99 for 100 needles (use at least 1 each time you vaccinate)
- Marek’s Vaccine $37.99 (vaccine doses for 1000 chicks, can divide into several uses)
- Needles for transferring diluent $9.99 for 100 needles
- 20 ML Syringe $18.99 – quantity 50. Get this size if you are vaccinating 100 chicks or fewer.
- 60 ML Syringe $18.99 – quantity 25. Get this size if you are vaccinating 300 chicks or fewer.
Other supplies
- small disposable plastic cups (for mixing partial dose vaccine). I have started using the empty vaccine vials.
- small tweezers (to section vaccine disk and pull 1 piece out)
- empty vaccine jar (or similar) with permanent rubber stopper (needed if you do partial doses)
- small pliers to remove sealing band from vaccine bottle
- Rubbing alcohol and cotton balls to sterilize the tops of the diluent bottles
Work area
- well lit and clean
- absorbent work surface (newspapers or paper towels)
Storage considerations
The vaccine comes with 2 parts:
- Diluent – 200ml glass bottle. Can be stored at room temperature, but I refrigerate it.
- The freeze dried wafer with the virus in a small glass bottle – Needs to be stored between 2 and 7 degrees C (35 – 45 degrees F)