Can you confirm Fowl Pox? UGH.

[Krist10]

O MY LORD! it has literally been one thing after another with these chickens. We got chicks in March/April, now I'm pretty sure they have fowl pox.

I feel like ever since we put them in their new run and coop in the beginning of May, we've had issues.
Respitory illness, heat stroke, eye infections, now fowl pox.

I'm just so worn out with this constant dealing with sickness. Am I doing something wrong??
I have pine pellets in their coop and run (we have CLAY soil, cracking in the summer and MUDDY when it rains, this has been the best solution).
-they each have at least 1 foot of roost space and 10+ sqft of run space each.
-I clean their coop and run weekly (take out roosts and scrub and sift bedding- like a litter box)
-They have shade, fresh water and food daily
-dust bath with sand, dirt and small amount of food grade diamataceous earth
-mealworm and dandelion weed occasionally
-nature wise all flock pellets
-oyster shell and grit avaialble
-flock is not Va**inated
We've been treating a bird with a swollen eye, got the huge ball of pus out and she's doing great now. she had a small white spot (like a pimple) on her waddle, didnt think much of it since we were really concerned with and dealing with the eye. Wev'e had her seperated and in the laundryroom for about a week. Yesterday I was out with the flock and noticed that my roo had one of the white spots on each waddle and a hen has a comb that is all black on the very end. And now that I look at the picture I took, it looks like shes got a spot on her eye lid. UGH.

1st pic of the girl with the eye we've been treating (post pus removal)
Second pic is of my welsummer girl and last 2 are my roo

 

[The Coop Crew]

I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with all of that! If it is fowl pox it should pass on its own! It appears to be dry fowl pox which is the lesser of the two. I know you can paint iodine on the spots to help them dry up.
Good luck!

 

[Eggcessive]

That does look like a mild case of fowl pox. Did you get all of your chickens from TSC as baby chicks? Usually, you would not see a respiratory disease in new pullets bought as chicks, unless you added a bird from a private seller. The swollen eye could have been from a peck wound or getting something inside the eyelids. But MG could be a possible cause. Usually it is spread by a carrier or wild birds. Fowl pox, can have secondary infections, and that can include eye infections. I normally would use saline to clean a watery or giunk y eye, and follow that with Terramycin or Neosporin ointment twice a day. I read your other thread where you used Tylosin, so that is good. Fowl pox usually clears up in 3-4 weeks after spreading through the flock over weeks. It is a virus spread by mosquitoes. Usually they will develop immunity to pox in the furture after having it.

 

[WingItRanch]

I'm just going to throw in that I don't think you're doing anything wrong! I have been put through the ringer with my chickens too. I also got mine Early April. Sudden death of week old chick, coccidiosis, respiratory, and a cracked beak. As a first time chicken owner, it's enough to make you feel like you're doomed. I'm trying to stay positive and think of it like a accelerated education program. Hang in there!

 

[Krist10]

I'm just going to throw in that I don't think you're doing anything wrong! I have been put through the ringer with my chickens too. I also got mine Early April. Sudden death of week old chick, coccidiosis, respiratory, and a cracked beak. As a first time chicken owner, it's enough to make you feel like you're doomed. I'm trying to stay positive and think of it like a accelerated education program. Hang in there!

Thank you. Its been kind of discouraging. I feel tlike I've been working my butt off and they just keep dying or getting sick. We did finally get our first eggs a week ago so that was encouraging!

 

[WingItRanch]

Thank you. Its been kind of discouraging. I feel tlike I've been working my butt off and they just keep dying or getting sick. We did finally get our first eggs a week ago so that was encouraging!

Hey, you're ahead of me with the eggs! Yes, I have definitely had moments when I was discouraged but I think it will still be rewarding in the long run.

 

[Bawkbok]

This must be an indoctrination process for us newbies. We started with chickens for the first time this February. Of the initial three - all are gone due to various issues. Of the next two, one is remaining. We now have two more newbies. Of a total of 7 over time, we've lost 5. The odds were so bad I wanted to give up on the chicken thing, and I was weary from crying. But, we have so much invested financially my husband told me we're not quitting now, and I'm emotionally hooked, so I keep coming here to learn from other's experiences. Since February I think we've collected only a dozen eggs, so we ate our $1,000 omlets and are hoping for better days ahead. Hang in there. It is frustrating for sure and we all just want healthy birds and eggs. The huge lesson learned is one must be their own vet and there are many experts here willing to help. I'm grateful for this website and all the contributors herein.