Fowl Pox

[chickendude]

I believe my Roo has Fowl Pox. I checked out this link to Avian Pox ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-diseases-AvianPox.html ) and it appears to look the same. I will try to load some pictures later this evening. Does anybody just cull their bird at the first sign of Fowl Pox? I'm not 100% sure what to do. I understand there is no cure, and I am trying to avoid spread to the rest of my birds. All help is welcomed.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
No need to cull, it'll go away on its own in about 30 days more or less if it's dry pox. If your other chickens havnt contracted it yet, you can seperate your roo in hopes it doesnt spread or you can let it run its course through your flock and they'll be immune to that particular strain. There are 2 types; dry pox and wet pox. Wet pox is dangerous because it can infect the mouth, throat and nostrils. It can cause blockage and prevent swallowing feed, causing death by starvation. There is a vaccination available to give to non infected birds. All mine have had the dry pox before and are now immune to that particular strain. Fowl pox is normally carried by mosquitos. I'm sure it has been too cold for mosquitos where you live. The only other vector I know of would be contact with infected wild birds. You can put iodine on the scabs on the comb and wattles to help dry them up. Others have used neosporin. The scabs will eventually fall off but are infective. If a scab or nodule gets scratched and becomes infected...neosporin can be used to help prevent the infection. If your hens get it, egg production will slow but the eggs are safe to eat, it cant be contracted to humans. Time will heal. Here's another reference- http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[chickendude]

Thanks dawg53. I will let it run it's course. My other concern is I am getting day old chicks first week in April. they of course will be brooded indoors and won't be with the flock until feathered out. Can fowl Pox be tougher on very young birds?

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
I would think it could be more dangerous because the immune systems in chicks arnt as 'strong' or 'built up' like in older chickens to resist possible secondary infections. I think your doing the right thing by keeping them indoors away from the others.

 

[HHandbasket]

I had a welsummer that had a dry fowlpox on her face at about 4 months of age. After it cleared, she had a dry sore there which kept getting infected. We finally had to cull her at 8 months because the infection had overtaken her eye and the whole right side of her head & she was suffering. I believe that was a very unusual outcome, however, and from what I have learned by talking to others whose birds have had it, once they clear up from having it they are fine. I think what happened with my particular chicken is that after the pox sore fell off, it left a spot that maybe one or two of the other girls pecked at & then it got infected. She had 4 months of antibiotics & it did not clear. (BTW, I never saw anyone pecking at her face, just made the assumption.)

Not everybody culls right away, and more often than not, your bird will be perfectly fine.

 

[chickendude]

Thanks for the help! I will defiantly keep the new chicks separate and will keep close eye for secondary infections on my roo. It is a sigh of relief to know he has a very good chance at getting through this.

 

[Judy]

My whole flock got this two years ago in summer. I did put a little Neosporin on the spots just to prevent secondary infection, but probably didn't even have to do that. In three weeks all the spots went away, overnight. The next year no one got it.

I am suspicious about yours getting it at this time of year, since this isn't exactly mosquito season. I wonder if you don't have some peck marks instead. They can be hard if not impossible to tell apart.

 

[chickendude]

Quote:
I agree with you. No mosquitoes out now. As I posted earlier I can post some pics later for all to check out. Unless it was contracted, as dawg53 said by wild birds that were passing it around .

 

[jpdelange]

a Few of my 6 week old chicks have pox 3 of them have sores on there eyes how do i get there eyes open? I have lost 96 chicks in the last week