bumpy Scabs on a few of my hen's neck? *Pictures* *UPDATE* POST *32

[Farmerboy16]

I have 9 bourbon red turkeys, 3 toms, and 6 hens, they are all 18 months. I have noticed that a few of my hens have scabs all over their head and neck. The toms looks fine. But today, I saw that one of the hens have a swelling under her eye, that feels like a water balloon, and she has running nose too. I am freaking out, because I had to cull 200+ chickens due to coryza. I know that turkeys do not get coryza, but I feel awful about culling all of my chickens, and do not want to cull my turkeys.

I will run out and take pictures of them right now, and post them here. THANKS for any help with my flock.

 

[Frosty]

Possibly fowl pox, and they could be carriers for Mycoplasmosis. A lot of times a bird could be a carrier for Mycoplasma and not show symptoms until they are stressed.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Here is some pictures from my cell phone of some of my turkeys-
Healthy looking hen

Hen with swelling under her eye, she is the only one that has it.

Scabbing on the hen's head and neck.

One of the toms.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Looks like fowl pox to me.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Ok, do I have to cull them? If I do not have to cull them, will the fowl pox spread to my future chickens replacement? What is the proper thing for me to do? What about the hen in the 2nd picture? Is that fowl pox? Thanks for any answers.

 

[kuntrygirl]

No, you do not have to cull them. Just let it run it's course. They will be ok. Check out this link for more info.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-diseases-AvianPox.html

Just noticed the hen in the 2nd pic. YIKES!! That looks like perhaps a respiratory problem starting. That swelling does not look good at all. Is there any sneezing, sour mouth, crust around eyes? Do you have any Tylan on hand?

 

[Frosty]

Quote:
The first post did say runny nose, I'm thinking that the stress allowed sinus problems to crop up.

That does look like fowl pox, the dry form will run it's course. The sinus problem however could be Mycoplasmosis. The only way to know would be to have them tested for it. You do need to know that if that is what it is, they will remain carriers. You won't cure the virus, just treat the symptoms. If it is Mycoplasma, it can also be transmitted through the egg. So if you are planning to sell turkeys or poults...

 

[Breac]

That definitely looks like dry fowl pox. It's caused by a mosquito bite. There is no need to cull any birds; just let nature run it's course. I had a turkey hen with dry fowl pox two years ago and no one else has gotten sick since!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quote:
The first post did say runny nose, I'm thinking that the stress allowed sinus problems to crop up.

That does look like fowl pox, the dry form will run it's course. The sinus problem however could be Mycoplasmosis. The only way to know would be to have them tested for it. You do need to know that if that is what it is, they will remain carriers. You won't cure the virus, just treat the symptoms. If it is Mycoplasma, it can also be transmitted through the egg. So if you are planning to sell turkeys or poults...

I how can I have the turkeys tested? How much does it cost to have them be tested? I do not have Tylan, but will call the feedmill to see if they have it. If it is Mycoplasmosis, I am going to be very upset.

 

[Frosty]

You'll probably need to contact your state ag folks to see about testing. Some states do it free, others don't so I can't tell how much it would cost.

I have heard some folks say that most sinus problems are caused by that and that it will spread thruogh the flock, then return any time the birds are stressed (and even weather can stress them). I have had I think three birds with sinus problems in about the last 10 years. I didn't remove them from the flock, just treated the sick birds with Tylan. In my case it didn't spread to the other birds, and was a one time problem. I had a peacock get it within a week of bringing him home, I contacted the seller and she had a bunch of her peas with it. The peahen that he was with never showed symptoms and even after winters with temps in the -38 range he never had symptoms again so I don't know.

If what you are seeing is caused by a virus, the swelling is likely caused by a bacterial infection starting while the body is fighting the virus. You will be treating for the bacterial infection, not the virus itself. And who knows, it could just be a bacterial infection secondary to the pox virus?

You really need to start treating it as soon as you can, the stuff in the sinus can actually harden and at that point will need to be cut out. Here is a thread from the peafowl section where Yoda had a pea with a swollen sinus and had to cut it out. Graphic pics starting on page three, but he did an excellent job and posted some great pics of the process. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=504944&p=1