fowl pox in chicks?

TexGardenGirl

Songster
14 Years
Feb 2, 2009
152
2
229
northeast of Dallas
Does anyone know if fowl pox is more serious in chicks than adults? And if so, how bad?

I've been researching and all I seem to find out is that they can be vaccinated, but nothing about the course of the disease if they get it. I have a small flock of 10 hens, 2 roos, and 4 11-day-old chicks. I believe all the adults have fowl pox, which I just noticed today (though looking back on it, they've had some spots for a few weeks, which I just assumed were scabs from fighting/mating, which they always have a few of). The chicks are in a hutch in the main chicken pen with the hen who hatched them, and they appear to be very healthy so far, but the mama does seem to have a few pox spots too. The other chickens can't actually get to the babies, but they're really close by, and in the last few days mama's been coming out to stretch her legs briefly and has had contact with the others.
I looked into getting the vaccine, but it comes in 1,000 dose vials and seems to be rather hard to handle (and I'm a former veterinary technician, not intimidated by meds...) and maybe not worth the effort for so few birds. And since all the adults have it already, it's only the babies who I could vaccinate anyway. So I think I'm going to just let it go and hope it runs its course without too much trouble, but I hate to think of the babies suffering...
 
Hello! I'm also in Texas with an identical problem of a flock that is infected with pox, and chicks and poults in an adjacent brooder.
Did anyone ever coment to this post with information?
I'm concerned about the chicks and poults getting sick and not growing properly. I just delivered them on the same day I recognized the pox problem. Thanks!
 
No, never got any replies. It did turn out all my chickens survived with no apparent complications. I can't honestly remember if the babies even caught the pox, but I think they did. I've since raised guineas and ducks and lots more chickens and we've never had another outbreak. (Knock on wood) Don't know why.
Best of luck!
 
I had a mom come up with "warts" on her face, that has progressed to the point her eyes were totally covered. 3 of my moms have it. I am in Louisiana. and lots of rain, and terrible mosquitos. I realized it is fowl pox. I have been putting sulfur and vaseline on the affected areas. It is about 2 weeks into it. The first hen is improving. I realized you can actually rub some of the scabs off as they dry. I was cleaning her face and some came off. I had to offer her water every 2 hours as she couldn't see. I have 2 other moms with it, one is progressing to the point one eye is covered. The other mom is not on her eyes- just every where else on her face. I have so many moms, and only so many places to put chicks. I was unable to separate the moms from the chicks. The hen with one eye becoming occluded has 7 chicks with her. today I noticed they also have areas on their face, eyes, or beak with fowl pox. I have applied the medicine to them also. Before any judgement- this mom was in a separate coop from my others, and I had no place to put the chicks. At the point I realized she also had it, I assumed they also had already been exposed. I have also been using neosporin, and iodine. It does get better, just got to get them over the hump.
 
I have a chick with terrible fowl pox... To the extent of developing deformities. I feel so terrible. She (hopefully) is eating and drinking and foraging, but look at her. I have been applying veteycin eye ointment and wiping
400
her beak with a warm wash cloth. Her beak is starting to become scissored.
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Oh, poor chick. Hopefully the beak will straighten out as it heals.
I wish I could tell you how and why mine came through it with no problems beyond a few very mild scars on wattles. I guess we were just lucky. Best wishes to you. :)
 
Thanks Texgardengirl! I was hoping you would chime in as well as Pmontou. A farmer friend of mine said to cull her, but she is showing such a fight for life I just can't do it. If she stops eating or showing signs of failure to survive I will assist, but not yet!
 
If you remove those pox, the beak will correct itself. The growths prob go into the mouth a bit- you just have to grab it with tweezers and tug. If its dry enough it will come off. If not- rub some iodine on it, and try later
 
Thanks Pmontou, I tried the last two nights with tweezers and they are really stuck on and she screams so loudly I get all nervous. I am getting iodine today and trying again tonight. Thanks for your advice!!!!!
 

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