Avian Pox

[jillbell]

I had five chickens, in 2 coops with covered runs. 2 were Bearded Belgian d'Anvers, one of which died and the other showed outward signs of dry pox. She is getting better fast, and laying eggs again.

The other coop, has 3 5.5 month old Salmon Favorelles. They did not get the Pox, which I have read is spread by mosquitoes. I live in the Houston, TX area so there is no shortage of mosquitoes! Both coops have covered runs to protect from predators, and I have both runs covered with a heavy cloth to protect from wild bird droppings possibly carrying avian influenza.

I bought Pox vaccine as soon as I figured out the little one had it, but she is getting better so fast I am not certain whether to vaccinate my Salmon girls.

Advice???? PLEASE!

Thank you so much for your help, I love my girls. I felt terrible when the other little one succumbed. She had no outward signs of anything by the way.

 

[Maddly]

Hi Jill,

We are fairly close to you, in College Station, and one of my birds has just started showing symptoms of fowl pox too. It must be going around with all of the mosquitos in this area! How long was your Belgian d'Anvers sick before she started to recover?

If you already have the vaccine on hand, I would probably vaccinate the Favorelles. Since there are so many mosquitos here and the pox seems to be going around in Texas right now they could pick up the disease from another mosquito bite even if your d'Anvers are fully recovered. Better safe than sorry!

Where did you buy the vaccine from? I would like to vaccinate my healthy chickens too before they get sick, but have been having a hard time finding a local supplier.

 

[CLSranch]

Sounds like your doing everything you can. I've noticed some of the people on here are not to big on vaccines. If the one has gotten better she should be "tolerant" now. The others I'd vaccinate if you think it is a good chance of them getting it later. Also I really like mosquito dunks. $10 at atwoods, TSC, or your local feed store. It takes a week or so to sell if they work. But bye bye mosquito's. It is a bunch of tabs that looks like a little doughnut. Last for a month and kills any larva in any standing water. Old tire half dry creek bottom or small pond. I worry about my horses. My neighbor had one die a few years ago from a mosquito carrying disease.

 

[CLSranch]

I also think they had a thread going the other day just for this. Try typing it into the search box at the top.

 

[jillbell]

She was only sick about a week and the wart things started to recede and she started laying again. But... the other one died. She must have had wet pox, I never saw a thing. I got the vaccine from http://www.strombergschickens.com/product/fowl-pox-vaccine-1000-doses/Poultry-Vaccines-Blood-Tests and had it shipped to my work so I could immediately refrigerate it. It only comes in 1000 doses and you can't save it but it is very inexpensive and worth doing I think.

 

[jillbell]

The one that lived started looking better and laying eggs again in a week or so which is really fast. The breeder said she breeds for disease resistance so maybe she was resistant. I am lucky, she is so cute that I can hold her on her back and tickle her belly.

I got the vaccine at Strombergs. it is very inexpensive and I watched a youtube video on how to vaccinate them, I have never done one. I would watch it if you have never done it. The moderator won't let me post outside links yet or I would have posted the link for the vaccine and the video but they are easy to find. Google never ends! I will do them then. Thanks for the common sense advice.

 

[jillbell]

Thank you, I will search. I don't have any standing water, just "standing humidity". LOL.

 

[Maddly]

Thanks so much responding and letting me know what to expect, it's nice to talk to someone else going through the same thing. I went to our local feed store during my lunch break today and they had exactly one dose of the pox vaccine left in their fridge so we picked it up and will vaccinate all of our other chickens tonight. Just hoping that our one sick rooster pulls through okay, he seems otherwise healthy and happy so hopefully it is just a mild case. All the best!