Avian pox, fowl pox

[cwren]

Many of my flock have pox-- appears to just affect the combs, its been going a while. I haven't seen this answered anyplace I've looked online.

I'm assuming this is dry form since they haven't been sick.

question: When this is done--outbreak over,

Will this heal over and the combs go back to normal healthy appearance or is going to leave scars?

I have 6 hens and 2 roosters, The biggest rooster seems to have the worst looking comb but so far is just as big a jerk as always, so not acting ill. Only combs are showing it.

1 more--if my big jerk rooster gets to make me any angrier-- is it ok to eat him? And are hens eggs ok? are they ok to eat or ok to hatch?

I guess that was a lot more than 1 question.

 

[Henriettamom919]

I have no knowledge regarding avian pox so I'm not sure. I'll tag a few people who might know!

@ChickenCanoe @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @chickens really @DobieLover @aart @sourland any thoughts on eating eggs/meat from birds with pox?

 

[chickens really]

...I don't know but a picture will help others possibly help with an answer...

 

[Henriettamom919]

You could get some Nustock to rub on affected combs and wattle. It will provide some relief and softens scabbed and scaly areas.

 

[coach723]

Any birds that have the pox will have some resistance to it when recovered, those birds should not get it again. The virus is not zoonotic (spread across species) so you can't get it from the chickens or the eggs. I've never tossed eggs for this, sometimes they will stop laying if they feel bad enough. It is usually from mosquito's, and the birds had the virus for a period of time before the lesions showed up, so you probably ate those eggs without knowing. The scabs can also spread the virus, so I usually give the coop a good cleaning once everyone looks to be healing up and again once it's really over. Keeping things clean can help prevent the spread. I'm not entirely sure, but don't think the virus would affect hatching eggs, but if it's in the environment (scabs in bedding) then the chicks could be exposed that way. Once it runs it's course they should heal up and look as they did before, I've not had any scarring. As for eating the roo, I personally don't eat birds that I know are sick with anything, but once it's passed and over and he's healthy again I don't think it would be harmful. Like a cold, or any other virus in us, once it's over, it's over. If you have a lot of mosquitos where you are then putting window screen over your coop openings can help keep them out, they are most likely to be bitten while stationary and roosting. You can cut a rectangle of screen and cut into strips that hang over your doorway so the birds can still go in and out but it helps keep the bugs out. The screen does catch a lot of dirt, so you have to brush/clean/vacuum them off to keep them clear.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Many of my flock have pox-- appears to just affect the combs, its been going a while. I haven't seen this answered anyplace I've looked online.

I'm assuming this is dry form since they haven't been sick.

question: When this is done--outbreak over,

Will this heal over and the combs go back to normal healthy appearance or is going to leave scars?

I have 6 hens and 2 roosters, The biggest rooster seems to have the worst looking comb but so far is just as big a jerk as always, so not acting ill. Only combs are showing it.

1 more--if my big jerk rooster gets to make me any angrier-- is it ok to eat him? And are hens eggs ok? are they ok to eat or ok to hatch?

I guess that was a lot more than 1 question.

Any photos?
@coach723 gave some good advice.
The scabs will heal up and eventually fall off.

As for eating the rooster, once he's healed up and not showing any symptoms, yes, you should be able to eat him. Inspect the internal organs, etc. for any signs of disease like you would any other time you butcher.

You mention he's a big jerk. Well...what does that mean? Mean to your hens, mean to you? Mean to the other rooster? You have 2 roosters per 6 hens correct? Are the hens all worn?

 

[Eggcessive]

It would be good to see a picture of the comb. It could be peck wounds from the other rooster instead of pox. But if it is pox, you should probably see another chicken with it. Usually there are pox scabs on the comb, wattles, and face.