Chicken with yellow soars in mouth

[Justin Statham]

My daughter told me one of her bug chickens has been acting strange and sluggish the past few days. I picked it up today and her mouth is full of soars and she is light. I separated her from the flock and picked what I could out of her mouth. Does anyone know what this is and what can i give her to help? It stinks and she sound weird breathing. I am about to go to Tractor Supply and see if they have anything to help but don't know what I am looking for.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Looks like infection... pus in poultry is cheesy/hard rather than liquidy... remove as much of it as you can...

@casportpony what do you think?

 

[sourland]

Do an on site search on canker. Metronidazole - sold as "Fish Zole" is a possible treatment. She may be too far gone to save, but the rest of the flock should be checked, and the waterers should be cleaned and sanitized ig you determine that it is canker.

 

[Justin Statham]

Where can i get the Metronidazole - sold as "Fish Zole" in stores? I went to Tractor Supply and called Pet Smart and neither had it. I can order online put I think time is running out right now.

 

[sourland]

Do you have some smaller mom and pop pet stores in your area ? They may have it. I used to get it from Foys Pigeon Supplies, but smaller non chain stores around here used to carry it.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Or any tropical fish specialty stores *should* have it... maybe aquarium stores?

 

[Eggcessive]

Petsmart and Petco may carry a product called API General Cure, but make sure it says metronidazole on the label. Dosage of metro or fish zole is 250 mg divided into 2 125mg doses twice daily for 5 days. Does your chicken have scabs on it's comb? If so, and if you have mosquitoes out, she might have wet fowl pox instead of canker. Welcome to BYC, and sorry about your hen.

 

[Justin Statham]

She does have scabs and mosquitoes are still out in GA. How can i tell the difference and whats the treatment for that?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would seek a vet if possible with that bad of an infection. Unfortunately pox is a virus carried by mosquitoes, and antibiotics are not usually effective. However, I would probably use some if available or try the metronidazole. Casportpony here on BYC has had a lot of experience with wet pox. Wet pox causes the internal pus and scabs in the mouth, throat, crop, and trachea. It is painful, and they may not be able to eat and drink. Many can die. Tube feeding might be something you would want to try or learn. I have to say that I have no experience with wet pox, and have never seen that bad of the gunk inside the beak. Try to get fluids with electrolytes and vitamins into her. Sorry that you are dealing with this, and I hope others can offer help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is some good information about fowl pox, including the wet or diphtheritic form:
http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=5&p=35
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/fowlpox/fowlpox-in-chickens-and-turkeys?network=g&matchtype=b&keyword=how to treat fowl pox in chickens&creative=228099668793&device=c&devicemodel=&placement=&position=1o1&campaignid=961493658&adgroupid=47616265437&loc_physical_ms=9015895&loc_interest_ms=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAus_QBRDgARIsAIRGNGgMhK7C5_8s5gHIY3xrSvTaIwvLqjUPwEKXkhfkMT0JPxq8LSB0tPEaAkhGEALw_wcB
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2015/07/fowl-pox-prevention-treatment.html

This one is very long and has some very graphic pictures:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ctures-of-pus-and-scabs.818895/#post-11900240