Fowl pox w secondary infection taking out my flock. Help 🥹

[Jjdesmo11]

I started a bachelor flock about a month or so ago and didn’t quarantine. I have been dealing with fowl pox. We also have a leaking spigot w standing water so it could have happened here. But i realized my boys have fowl pox. Started with 2 boys that fought so open wounds. Yesterday my frizzle polish couldn’t keep his head up. I only see small lesions and nothing in the mouth so i assume something secondary. When we had the initial outbreak about 2 weeks ago I cleaned the coop w elector psp. I keep sand at the bottom of the coop. I separated my frizzle ( pictures below are 2 that passed unfortunately and my frizzle who is halfway there) so I went aggressively yesterday and started with endocox because the poop looked nasty last week and I had put some in the water. I diluted w water and gave orally in a syringe. I think about 0.3 diluted. I also have baytril (endrofloxin?) and gave 0.2ml orally twice yesterday and today. I have dewormed. Hes not eating, so I have exact feed I mixed with hydro hen and tube fed 30ml. That was too much and some spilled out of his mouth. I’ve done that 3 times. This morning I did about 20ml. His crop was empty this morning. I’m hoping I can keep him alive till the antibiotics kick in. Any other things I can do? I hate to keep loosing birds. I have F10 a vet disinfectant. Should I deep clean everything? I didn’t send the others for necropsy. I did that once and it was expensive and they just said it was coccidiosis. This was years ago and it was an hr drive. I created my bachelor flock to save boys from untimely death and I feel like I’m killing them off. Praying for my flocks future. Please help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Antibiotics do nothing against fowl pox virus. The scabs can remain infectious for weeks after falling off. I would however use some antibiotic ointment in the eyes of the ones with scabs around eyes. Are you seeing any yellow patches inside the beaks and throats of the roosters? That can be the more severe type of wet pox, and can be deadly. If you can separate the most sick birds to see that they are getting enough food and water, they may survive. But then separating roosters from each other may cause integration problems. How are you housing them?

 

[Jjdesmo11]

Antibiotics do nothing against fowl pox virus. The scabs can remain infectious for weeks after falling off. I would however use some antibiotic ointment in the eyes of the ones with scabs around eyes. Are you seeing any yellow patches inside the beaks and throats of the roosters? That can be the more severe type of wet pox, and can be deadly. If you can separate the most sick birds to see that they are getting enough food and water, they may survive. But then separating roosters from each other may cause integration problems. How are you housing them?

Yes i believe it’s fowl pox as well as something else, some secondary infection because I know fowl pox is viral. Mouth is clear on the polish, the only one of the three alive and was lethargic starting yesterday. I had a little yellow in the other two that passed away. I did sanitize waters and food bowls. Removed and used other ones. They are in a coop and run and they free range during the day. The coop is about 8 yrs old. It’s dusty and I used sand in it. I recently got a bunch of cobwebs out of it and sprayed w elector psp. I have two others in the coop with small lesions. I’m worried for the rest of my flock. So I’m trying to tube feed, support organs till I can figure out what’s wrong. I’m throwing the kitchen sink at him. He’s breathing, heart seems strong. Wattles are still red, crop is emptying at night. I just gave nutridench orally. I know frizzles are more prone to deficiency. Any other things you might try in this situation? Thx for responding so quickly.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some people use Betadine 10% to paint on any scabs avoiding the eyes, to help them dry up. I hope he makes it. The tube feeding can help, and many use KayTee Exact babybird feed for tube feeding, but raw egg and plain unsweetened yogurt can help too. You can get the KayTee at Walmart I think as well as here:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=exact+bi...297581&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_16unvgzzml_e

 

[Jjdesmo11]

Some people use Betadine 10% to paint on any scabs avoiding the eyes, to help them dry up. I hope he makes it. The tube feeding can help, and many use KayTee Exact babybird feed for tube feeding, but raw egg and plain unsweetened yogurt can help too. You can get the KayTee at Walmart I think as well as here:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=exact+bi...297581&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_16unvgzzml_e

Thank you I have some. He only has those two tiny fowl pox spots. I did put betadine on the other two birds and it honestly didn’t seem to make a difference. I’m trying to prevent the spread of it. Inevitable they will all get it. Advice on what or how to clean the coop?

 

[Eggcessive]

Virkon S tablets mixed in water is a good disinfectant for cleaning equipment or facilities. They sell those on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/DuPont-Virkon-S-50-Tablet-Disinfectant-Pets/dp/B0088OKF1E

Some use Odoban which used to be found at Sam’s, Home Depot, etc. I have used bleach mixed with water to 10% strength. The problem with fowl pox scabs is that they dry and fall off, and may become powdery which other chickens can inhale weeks later. The virus can live weeks in the environment. For chickens not exposed, there is a vaccine available if they are 8 weeks old. Once a chicken has pox, they are immune to that strain in the future.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is some info about fowl pox vaccine:
https://valleyvet.cvpservice.com/product/view/1506010
And where to buy it:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=63c9bff7-0ae9-41a5-bce7-773d195ee78c

 

[Jjdesmo11]

Virkon S tablets mixed in water is a good disinfectant for cleaning equipment or facilities. They sell those on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/DuPont-Virkon-S-50-Tablet-Disinfectant-Pets/dp/B0088OKF1E

Some use Odoban which used to be found at Sam’s, Home Depot, etc. I have used bleach mixed with water to 10% strength. The problem with fowl pox scabs is that they dry and fall off, and may become powdery which other chickens can inhale weeks later. The virus can live weeks in the environment. For chickens not exposed, there is a vaccine available if they are 8 weeks old. Once a chicken has pox, they are immune to that strain in the future.

Great thank you! I separated the 3 and one more is head tucked and lethargic today. I fear I will loose them all. I think my dusty coop is to blame as well as the pox. I’m afraid to vaccinate the others with an active outbreak. It’s so sad to see them all slowly get infected. I’ll try to keep you updated. I feel I have done all I can do aside from vet care. I didn’t mention above but have taken 3 birds to the vet in the past and all three died leaving me with a hefty bill (impacted crop surgery w euthanasia fee was my last go round ) this forum is so helpful thanks so much.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that you have lost birds to various things in the past. Vets are very expensive. They can be helpful if antibiotics are needed. Most state vet labs can help by doing a necropsy if you lose a chicken to find a cause of death. If you ever need it here is a list of state vets labs to contact for a necropsy or testing:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...HFNNNJlJQ5K0jTNrq1GE42fnm7CsUjUMnE6JNOwZbnlYV

 

[Jjdesmo11]

Good news! He’s perking up this morning!! Giving nutridench, baytril and exact tube feeding has helped get him over the hump. He can’t keep his balance so I tired the vit e w selenium paste but it was too thick so I had some pills I put on my dogs food that I got in him. Prayers have been worked and I’m so thrilled he turned a corner pic of him holding his head up this morning