Fowl Pox, help!

Hobbits Mommie

Songster
Sep 21, 2018
394
854
212
Lakeland, FL
I've never owned chickens before, a couple of months ago I was gifted 20 chick's, one adult turkey, and two baby turkey's. I've had to learn everything online, and trial by fire.

Anyway, one of the baby turkeys developed a lesion on her lower beak. I thought it was an abscess but it grew rapidly. I took her to the vet and received the diagnosis of Fowl Pox. "No cure, but treat with oral antibiotics, quarantine, and she might make it".

So, she's been living in my living room for the last 3 weeks. The lesions now cover her entire beak, right side of her face (covering her eye), her legs, and now it's beginning on the left side of her face and eye. I've treated them with both iodine, and recently started applying an ocular antibiotic (recommended by a neighbor).

She's now a quarter of the size of my other turkeys, so her growth has definitely been stunted. She's a fighter and is trying very hard to survive. I've done everything I know to do (I've grown quite attached). Is there any advice you can give?
 
This is when it first started. Now, they've multipled all over the entire right side of her face, and beak completely covering her eye. They rupture with puss, and get crusty and it seems like new lesions form on top of the old lesions. I'll try to get a recent picture this evening.
 

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@casportpony ?

We would love to see better photos when possible (the whole bird, any lesions/pox on the face, legs, inside the beak, etc.)

Have you noticed if she has any lesions/pox inside the beak?
I haven't been brave enough to handle her her very much, other than to move her to her clean container, and apply the medication. I'm afraid of causing more stress than she's under, but the vet did check to make sure she didn't have any internal lesions (wet pox). He did say however that just because she didn't have it then, didn't mean that she wouldn't develop it. She's still so tiny and frail, but she is the strongest little thing and is fighting with everything in her.
 
I haven't been brave enough to handle her her very much, other than to move her to her clean container, and apply the medication. I'm afraid of causing more stress than she's under, but the vet did check to make sure she didn't have any internal lesions (wet pox). He did say however that just because she didn't have it then, didn't mean that she wouldn't develop it. She's still so tiny and frail, but she is the strongest little thing and is fighting with everything in her.
This was "Peep Peep", and her mother when she was healthy. She's still not much bigger than this 6 weeks later...
 

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I understand. Hopefully you can get some photos so we can see the bumps better. I don't know much about Turkeys, but am going to "assume" that Fowl Pox has to run it's course just like it does in chickens. Any scabs/lesions close to the eyes would need to be watched since eyes can get infected. It doesn't sound like that's the case though.

Fowl Pox can turn to wet form, your vet is correct, but I think you would notice that:)

I'm sorry she is not getting bigger. Is she eating well? What does she eat?
 
Sounds like you are doing everything right.
To keep her strength up are you giving her any vitamins?
I have heard scrmbled or hard boiled eggs can help sick birds.
Also i have read that the oil vitamins help. A,B,D and E.
Maybe mix some with the eggs.
I really hope you can get your girl thru this..
 

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