Fowlpox? What should i do?

[Paulinefrn]

Whatever it is, and scaly face mites is just a guess, you can try coating it with mineral oil or vaseline. That can smother any mites. Do you see any fowl pox in your older birds, have mosquitoes out, or see any scaly leg mites in any of your chickens? Mites can be spread in a nest box with a broody hen. As Wyorp Rock said, be careful if you use ivermectin. In small birds such as canaries, it can be toxic to use. If you should see any evidence of fowl pox in other chickens, let us know. I am a little nervous trying to diagnose your pullet with a picture.

Thank you for helping with this. None of my older chickens have ever had fowlpox, or anything like this. I live in a tropical region with a huge amount of mosquitoes, and that probably doesn't help preventing diseases or infections! I have never noticed scaly leg mites, but honestly this is the first time i hear it mentioned. How can you tell if they have it? Sorry about the bad quality of the picture as mentioned i am not home and my father is taking care of my flock.

 

[Paulinefrn]

What are you feeding her?

I agree, it could be scaly face mites. If you have a vet that can take a few scrapings and look at those to give you an official diagnosis, that would be best.
As mentioned, since she is so young, caution and great care should be given if you administer Ivermectin. You can find the Pour On Ivermectin at Tractor Supply or online. Weigh your little one so you know the proper dosage. The only information I have on Ivermectin Dosing is from this POST. Read it very carefully and take note of the decimal points and weights being discussed. Ivermectin Pour On must be put at the base of the neck along the spine, it needs to be in contact with the skin.

If she seems to be scratching it, I would also be inclined to apply a little coconut oil or maybe triple antibiotic ointment on the face.

Thank you! For the feeding, she is with all the older chickens. I give them a mix of different seeds in the feeder (mixed with blended egg shells), in addition to scap food from the kitchen, but i let them roam around in the garden often enough aswell. Should i isolate her, although she is still with her mother? I don't want it to spread..

 

[azygous]

Yes, keep this chick away from the rest of the flock as these mites are contagious. The mites are so small you can't see them with the naked eye. If you could they would resemble a tick. The face mites are burrowing under the skin, making those raised lesions. Vaseline will smother them and eventually they will go away and new skin will grow.

When they invade the legs of chickens, they burrow under the scales, causing a lot of pain and discomfort as the scales are lifted away from the leg instead of being smooth and flush against the leg. That's usually the first sign. Bad leg mites resemble what you see on the chick's face, only much worse.

 

[Paulinefrn]

Yes, keep this chick away from the rest of the flock as these mites are contagious. The mites are so small you can't see them with the naked eye. If you could they would resemble a tick. The face mites are burrowing under the skin, making those raised lesions. Vaseline will smother them and eventually they will go away and new skin will grow.

When they invade the legs of chickens, they burrow under the scales, causing a lot of pain and discomfort as the scales are lifted away from the leg instead of being smooth and flush against the leg. That's usually the first sign. Bad leg mites resemble what you see on the chick's face, only much worse.

Thank you for the info! I will keep her away and apply vaseline. I probably would've noticed if my chickens have ever had leg mites, it sounds pretty obvious.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you! For the feeding, she is with all the older chickens. I give them a mix of different seeds in the feeder (mixed with blended egg shells), in addition to scap food from the kitchen, but i let them roam around in the garden often enough aswell. Should i isolate her, although she is still with her mother? I don't want it to spread..

Can you tell us more about the mix of seeds? Do you provide your growing chicks with a commercial chick starter?
At 1 month old, she really needs Chick Starter with a protein content of at least 18%. Some of the skin issues could be due to lack of vitamins/minerals. If you don't have commercial feed available, I would try to find some poultry vitamins to supplement what she is not getting.

Egg shells are good way to provide a little extra calcium to laying pullets/hens. I would provide those free choice and not mixed with feed.

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t think that I would keep her away from her other chicks once you have started applying the mineral oil or vaseline. She needs to be with her siblings to remain part of the flock, and not have to be re-introduced later. If those are scaly face mites, she has gotten them from another chicken, possibly a broody hen or from bedding, roosts, nest box, etc. I would also still consider fowl pox, as it looks different in chicks, or something like ant bites or fungus as well. So many of the pictures online of birds with scaly face mites look different than what you are seeing.

 

[Paulinefrn]

Can you tell us more about the mix of seeds? Do you provide your growing chicks with a commercial chick starter?
At 1 month old, she really needs Chick Starter with a protein content of at least 18%. Some of the skin issues could be due to lack of vitamins/minerals. If you don't have commercial feed available, I would try to find some poultry vitamins to supplement what she is not getting.

Egg shells are good way to provide a little extra calcium to laying pullets/hens. I would provide those free choice and not mixed with feed.

I live on an island with wild chickens everywhere, and i got all my chickens from there (abandoned babies or injured chickens). Except for her, who i hatched. They are clearly different from regular house chickens (thicker bones, larger leg muscles, able to fly much more easily, ect) so i assumed that by letting them in the garden to peck around in addition to our kitchen waste -including the babies- they would get enough vitamins and minerals as they are more adapted at living without supplements. Could i be wrong? Maybe that could be the reason for her swollen face..
The mix contains millet (white and red), sunflower seeds, and dried corn

And for the egg shells i thought that if i didn't mix them up with something , the hens might notice what it is and try to eat their own eggs as a result. What could i mix it up with instead?

 

[Kiki]

Do you have stores that carry a complete poultry feed on your island?

 

[Kiki]

View attachment 1497378
Here is a picture of the chick

I understand you are not home but could you have your father feel this area and see if it feels swollen?
Is it on the other side of the face too?

I do not think this bird needs to be separated either.
Separation can cause problems and I believe it is only necessary if one is being picked on.

 

[Paulinefrn]

I don’t think that I would keep her away from her other chicks once you have started applying the mineral oil or vaseline. She needs to be with her siblings to remain part of the flock, and not have to be re-introduced later. If those are scaly face mites, she has gotten them from another chicken, possibly a broody hen or from bedding, roosts, nest box, etc. I would also still consider fowl pox, as it looks different in chicks, or something like ant bites or fungus as well. So many of the pictures online of birds with scaly face mites look different than what you are seeing.

The spots were cleaned, and vaseline added. I have two broody hens, but neither of them ever showed anything like this..