Avian Pox

[ckansier]

I have an outbreak of the avian pox in my flock of 17 chickens.. 3 look like they are on their death bed and the others have the wart looking spots on there combs. Sneezing and rattling respirations were the first symptoms besides the loss of egg laying, followed by the runny noses and spots on the combs. Question is how do I treat this virus and is it going to kill my entire flock?

 

[dawg53]

Since fowl pox is a virus, you cant treat it. It must run its course, about a month more or less. As far as the sneezing, rattling, runny noses...that could be a secondary infection and requires antibiotics. I'm not sure which kind of antibiotics you could give them. When mine had fowl pox I only had to deal with the nodules and scabs, I put iodine on them to help dry them up. Mine didnt have any sneezing etc...Once they are over the virus, they are immune to it. It will not kill your flock if it's dry pox. Wet pox is a different problem, if it gets in their nostrils, mouth or throat, there'll be breathing and swallowing issues that can eventually cause death.

 

[dawnchick]

It may kill the three, but in most cases, they recover and are immune from then on. There are two types, really I think two locations, outside and inside the mouth. My whole flock had it on their combs and did fine except for one, who had sores all over her face, which caused the others to peck her. If it gets inside the mouth they say it can really be serious but I have not seen this. There should be better info and a treatment for the sick ones on here somewhere. It is debatable whether you even need to treat the ones with it on their combs; I just dabbed all the combs once with Betadine, for what it was worth.

 

[MotherJean]

There is no treatment for Fowl Pox. You can treat secondary bacterial infections with a broad spectrum antibiotic (like Tylan).

 

[ckansier]

Thank you for this helpful information. I have bathed, dried and nurtured the lot of them. Hopefully they will all be perky and back to normal soon. I will take a look at the tylan for a possible secondary infection. Thanks again.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Check in the mouths of the ones who are the most ill. If you see thick cheesy lesions, they have wet pox. Same virus, but it has infected the mucous membrane. Get original super nasty tasting listerine and thoroughy swab their mouths with it at least twice a day. You want to gradually remove the cheesy gunk, but it you try to rip it out all at once, it will bleed badly. Get out as much at a time as you can without hurting the bird too badly or causing much bleeding. Put the whole flock on a broad spectrum antibiotic. If you didn;t have ones already sounding like they have something respiratory going on, I think that would be optional, but since you do they have likely all been exposed. Pox is spready primarily via mosquitoes and biting bugs, so treat the whole flock with ivermectin or flea/tick spray. Spray for mosquitoes and expty any standing water; if it is somethign like a pond or animal waterer, add mosquito dunks to prevent mosquito larvae from maturing.

Separate ones who are ill from those who are not, and care for ill birds last. Practice exceptional cleanliness; shed scabs can remain infection for months or even years.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
I dont recommend giving ivermectin to an already weakened flock...as you know, the ivermectin will also deworm them and we dont know the worming history. The chickens dont need the additional stress in their systems.

 

[riverlivin]

Vet tells me they Are Absolutely Not immune To it. As long as they are bitten by mosquitos carrying the circus they can get it. Like a cold. She said it is not like human chicken pox and there is no vaccination for it. The first time I heard this I this I thought the vet was crazy. I've now heard this from 3 poultry vets and many chicken farmers. They all agreed
Pox is not deadly, but secondary infections which are common, can be.