Fowl pox?!

[AmyB7481]

Help! I think my chickens have fowl pox! I've had my babies for 2 years and have never run into this. Any advice world be greatly appreciated. Three of my 10 birds appear to be affected. I'm posting pics of the two chickens with the most obvious signs. My 3rd chicken has a runny eye. What do I do?

 

[azygous]

Looks like fowl pox, all right. It should resolve in a few weeks. Mosquitoes spread it, and if the lesions break open, it spreads to other chickens. If you're in the mosquito zone, there is a do-it-yourself vaccination you can buy, but it won't help those already suffering from pox.

 

[AmyB7481]

I'm just taken completely by surprise with this. I've had my chickens for over two years and they've been totally healthy. This just came out of the blue! What is the mosquito zone? I'm located near Raleigh, NC. I'd be interested in the vaccine but I'm guessing it's probably too late for my remaining 7 birds...

 

[azygous]

Any place where it rains enough to leave standing puddles is the mosquito zone. If you have mosquitoes, it's how your chickens became infected with fowl pox. You can buy the vaccine here. https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=63C9BFF7-0AE9-41A5-BCE7-773D195EE78C It's for chickens eight weeks and older, but must not be given to active layers or to layers less than four weeks prior to onset of laying. Further info is at the link.

 

[AmyB7481]

Thank you so much for the information!