avian pox

[LaynaDon95]

Don't worry about Fowl Pox! Don't treat the birds with antibiotics - fowl pox is viral so they will do not good.

You can still eat the eggs no problem! We can not catch fowl pox!

The chickens will probably stop laying, or lay a lot less eggs when they have this disease as they put energy into fighting off the virus not making eggs. Once they are better they will start laying again.

Do not pick off the spots or scabs. Leave nature to run its course.

The disease does not seem to cause the bird to feel very ill. They don't even scratch at the spots of scabs so it can't itch too much.

Once they recover they will be immune to it in the future - at least the strain that they have caught - which is probably the most common strain in your area.

They will not get stunted or suffer any long lasting health issues after this disease. Just make sure they have access to good quality diet and clean water (you can add vitamin to the water if you like).

Don't worry ......... they will be back to normal in no time at all.

x2
Except if they are not fully grown, then it can cause stunted growth. My flock is almost fully over it now!

But I had some chicks catch it when they were about 3 months old. My Barnevelder cockrel got it the worst. He's about 4-5 months old now, over the pox and just not starting to grow again. He stayed basically the same size the whole time he had it.

 

[buildingmyark]

Welcome to BYC! Yeah, it sounds like you have pox too. The eggs are fine to eat as long as you are not medicating your chickens. For the mosquitoes, you could probably spray the area with some Permethrin. I would do it when the chickens are not around and allow it to dry before they re-enter.

 

[chichichickapea]

My flock looks a lot better, but a few days ago, I noticed another pullet had a black dot on her comb.....so it still there with some of them, but nothing like it was!!!! The ones who seemed to have it the worst are all doing better, they are beginning to get the color back in their combs....

I never did vaccinate my flock. I did do a lot of extra cleaning of everything in my coop over a 2 week period....don't know if it benefited my birds really, but it made me feel like I was doing something constructive and at least none of them developed any type of secondary infection. We have had a ton of rain and are still fiting mosquitoes and biting flies.

 

[buildingmyark]

So glad to hear that they are feeling better! Yes, the virus tends to be slow-spreading, which unfortunately draws it out. Just when you think it's gone, another one gets it! Hang in there! I know exactly how you feel.

 

[chichichickapea]

My flock looks a lot better, but a few days ago, I noticed another pullet had a black dot on her comb.....so it still there with some of them, but nothing like it was!!!! The ones who seemed to have it the worst are all doing better, they are beginning to get the color back in their combs....

I never did vaccinate my flock. I did do a lot of extra cleaning of everything in my coop over a 2 week period....don't know if it benefited my birds really, but it made me feel like I was doing something constructive and at least none of them developed any type of secondary infection. We have had a ton of rain and are still fiting mosquitoes and biting flies.

Sorry about my awful spelling...geez...I am not totally illiterate.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Sorry about my awful spelling...geez...I am not totally illiterate.

You used big words so you still sounded smart! Don't worry.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I was totally teasing just then, so you know. I really didn't notice any bad spelling...

 

[chichichickapea]

You used big words so you still sounded smart! Don't worry.

LOL!

 

[chichichickapea]

I was totally teasing just then, so you know. I really didn't notice any bad spelling...

You made me snort coffee thru my nose!

 

[Barbara Inman]

I just got off the phone with my father in Texas,He has raised chickens his whole life.He told me in the early days when they didn't have all the treatment they do now they would sprinkle Yellow Sulpher in the coops and around the buildings. The chickens didn't mess with it, and the bugs didn't like it. He said it help with the flys , mosiqt,nats. Just want to pass this along. I'm going to try this so my Girls won't be bother. I know I have been trying everything else without much help. Hope you find this helpful.