Bites on comb and around eyes of several chickens**HELP**

[Big Red's Mom]

It has rained here a lot over the last month or two. I try to keep everything clean and dry but it has been hard. I also had neck surgery two weeks ago and have not been able to lift anything heavy. So I have not been able to get the shaving changed in my pen. Saying all that. I live in Mississippi and with rain comes mosquitoes. Well I notices a few bloody spots on some of my hens around the combs and wattle. Nothing major. Well yesterday I noticed that some have bites that have a yellow and swollen look to them. One has bites above and below her eye and it is crusted over. I cleaned it up and the eye reopened. It is swollen. She is eating and doing normal chicken things. I also noticed that one had a bite on her the corner of her beak. It had her been swollen on top and bottom but looks to be healing. Again they are eating and acting fine. I will try to get some pictures but it is hard to get them to be still. Any help would be great....I am worried about my sweet ones.

 

[PaintedGemsRanch]

You mentioned mosquitos and a lot of wet... could it possibly fowl/avian pox? Google it or type it in a search on BYC

 

[Big Red's Mom]

Looks like maybe fowl pox.......Oh no....Okay I am going to wash her eye and put triple antibotic oint on it....
I hate those darn bugs.....It is getting cooler here now....Maybe they will go away....

Anything else I need to do?

 

[shelleyd2008]

Not really, it will clear up on its own after a few weeks. Well, other than getting rid of the mosquitos

If mosquitos are a common problem where you live (which I assume they would be) you might consider getting a bat house on your property. Bats would at least help rid you of mosquitos. Good luck

 

[PaintedGemsRanch]

Just watch for secondary infection and be aware of wet pox... otherwise it will run its course.. they will look terrible but be fine!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Bats or purple martins would help tremendously with mosquitos. Unless you already have them, though, I recomment that you spray all areas mosquitos tend to congregate with a pesticide like malathion that will kill mosquitoes; empty all standing water; any that you cannot empty, add Mosquito Dunks; nightly spray the birds and coops with mosquito repellant such as you would use on yourself.

 

[Big Red's Mom]

Good News....My birds are getting better....Most had no problem getting better...The one that had it on the eye....I cleaned with warm rag and put triple antibotic oint. on for a few days.......They are a little scared but doing great......Thank you for all the advice....
I have a martin house but no martins.....We have bats that come visit each night.......I try my best to keep on the 7 dust and spray as much as needed but when it rains hard for so many days nothing really helps......
Now getting ready for cooler weather......Maybe it will come a hard freeze this year here and kill off some pests.....