Fowl Pox?

[familypendragon]

I have a bunch with wet, dry and some with both, so yes, it's possible. FYI, they can get the scabs on their legs, bodies and vents, too, basically any place that's missing feathers.

Here are some of my really bad ones:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...x-xxx-rated-graphic-pictures-of-pus-and-scabs

-Kathy

OK, your pictures scare the crap out of me - no joke The majority of my 100+ birds inthe coop are all 1 week old - 2 months old. So far I only see signs on the adult birds. But I am afraid of what happens to the babies. AND even if I wanted to vax it says only from 14 weeks or older right??

 

[casportpony]

Most of my affected birds are adult, too, only had three chicks with it so far. I know nothing about the vaccine.

-Kathy

 

[familypendragon]

I am working my way through this thread about vaxing them https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-how-to-go-about-vaccinating-a-backyard-flock

Now to add to it all... today I collected eggs and my one Marans egg had a drop of blood on it. I noted it as odd and wondered if it could be related to pox on the vent - but she was not around for me to check her.

Then I went to the other pen and collected my one GLW's egg and this is what I found.

Now for reference this is a very large egg, and if not for finding the Marans egg first I would have just assumed it was due to the size.

I examined her vent and there was no sign of pox although she does have one on her comb. She looked a bit stretched out but no sign of blood. I am wondering if there could be pox INSIDE their egg ducts?? Like how the wet form is in their throats :/ Or is this just a weird coincidence??

 

[familypendragon]

4 chicks have dropped inexplicably dead in the last 2 days. Guessing FP is why?? I have the vaccine on hand but no help to administer it till Monday or Tuesday. One chick was an Apenzeller Spitzhauben and the others were my crosses. I am so afraid I am going to lose more by then.

 

[casportpony]

4 chicks have dropped inexplicably dead in the last 2 days. Guessing FP is why?? I have the vaccine on hand but no help to administer it till Monday or Tuesday. One chick was an Apenzeller Spitzhauben and the others were my crosses. I am so afraid I am going to lose more by then.

If they aren't eating and drinking enough they can die, so if you're concerned about the survivors, get a kitchen scale monitor their weight. If you notice any losing weight and you want to keep them alive, tube feed.

-Kathy

 

[familypendragon]

They have no symptoms and are eating and drinking like little pigs. They all seem perfectly lively and fine until they are suddenly dead. Another one died last night.

 

[casportpony]

Then I doubt that pox is what they died from. I've lost a few to pox, but they clearly starved to death, so if I were you, I would have a necropsy done. Refrigerate, do not freeze and contact:
http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

This is a post of mine from:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

How to Send a Bird for a Necropsy​

They need the whole bird, refrigerated, not frozen. If you live in CA, there are four labs that do necropsies on poultry (chickens, turkeys, waterfowl) for free. I know that they do out of state necropsies, but I think they charge for those. You could call them and ask what they charge for out of state "backyard poultry". The lab I use is the one in Tulare, CA. If you are in CA, call them and ask for their FedEx account number, it will save a bunch on shipping charges.

CAHFS
18830 Road 112
Tulare, CA 93274-9042
(559) 688-7543
(559) 686-4231 (FAX)
[email protected]


The other labs are listed here:
http://www.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/services/lab_locations.cfm

If it's Friday, unless you want to overnight for Saturday delivery, I would suggest shipping on Monday for Tuesday delivery. What you need to do, if you haven't already done so, is put your bird in your refrigerator, NOT the freezer! Then you need to find a box, line it with styrofoam (I use the 4'x8'x1" stuff from Home Depot. You can also get smaller pieces at an art store like Michael's, but is way more expensive. Click here to see foam options. You'll also need at least one ice pack. Here are some pictures that I took of the last bird that I sent:

Box lined with foam on four sides and bottom. Seams of foam taped sealed.


Box, sides, bottom and and top.


Frozen ice pack in ziplock baggie.


Brown paper on top of ice pack.


Hen in ziplock baggie on top of brown paper.


Brown paper on top of hen.


Ice pack on top of brown paper.


Lid on top of brown paper.
​

Inside the box you should also include a submission form in a ziplock baggie. Do not tell anyone at FedEx that you're shipping a dead animal... that seems to really worry them. Just make sure that nothing will leak.

Hope this helps!

-Kathy

-Kathy

 

[flgardengirl]

If yours get wet pox be sure to wet down their food with warm water. It makes it so much easier to swallow for them.

 

[casportpony]

Several of mine have wet pox so bad that they don't even try to eat, so they have to be tube fed.

-Kathy