Getting dried pus off of eyes on a hen with severe fowlpox?

[JustAnotherWeirdo]

I’ve been away for a few days each week and when I got home I saw that some of my chickens have been infected with fowlpox, on my hen Marnie specifically there were maybe 3 or 4 tiny scabs and yellow bumps collectively and one very close to the eye, I carefully applied iodine to them all and had to leave again for 4 days thinking the iodine should make them all fall off (I’ve had fowl pox before but nothing severe and just let them go away on their own because I didn’t even know there’s ways to help and only leant later on so this was my first time trying it).When I came back it was quite the disturbing site (2nd set of photos attached below). I brought her inside and washed the face with some salt water (saline) then applied iodine again and some F10 ointment I had and have heard many local chickens keepers say does wonders for helping with fowlpox scabs. Had to leave again for 2 days but left instructions and showed the person taking care of the chickens while I’m gone what to do and she said she will but I’m not quite sure how throughly it was done because when I got home the eyes were completely covered with what I think is dried pus. Yesterday I sat with her for quite some time gently wiping her eyes and whole face with more salt water and a cotton ball to slowly break away at the pus and managed to get a tiny opening on the one eye for her to try and see through again but this morning it’s closed again, below are photos of how she looks this morning.

Is there a better way to get the pus or perhaps which is the main question I have within this post?

For additional treatment I’ve been putting a multivitamin in her water (this one at 0.5g per liter https://za.virbac.com/products/minerals--vitamins/standard-product) and Doxycycline since I think she’s at high risk for secondary infection (https://aviomed.co.za/product/doxybrom-p/) and then I also purchased a an antiviral I found at a pet shop while away that I started adding since yesterday (https://aviomed.co.za/product/viromune-200g/).

It’s currently 12 days since I noticed the first fowlpox bumps and 6 days after the last 2 photos were taken.

 

[JustAnotherWeirdo]

Going to a vet is not really an option for her as the one in town does not like dealing with chickens and has very little knowledge on them anyways but if a specific treatment I can not do myself is needed I can definitely hear if he’ll be willing and able to help with this.

 

[theoldchick]

https://poultrydvm.com/condition/fowl-pox

 

[alinas2010]

I’m really sorry about Marnie getting struck so severely with fowl pox. How is she doing today? I hope she is inside with you getting some special attention as she probably isn’t able to find food and water herself with her eyes being stuck shut. The above resource is good for fowl pox. I will also tag the educators for any additional advice they might offer.
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous

 

[azygous]

Keeping in mind that disturbing the pox blisters can spread it, you can carefully free the eyes from dried pus with cotton balls dipped in moderately warm water.

Use the wet cotton ball as a warm compress to loosen the dried pus. Changing to a fresh wet cotton ball, gently dab and wipe the dissolved pus out of the eye.

Wash your hands thoroughly before and after administering this first aid.

 

[Eggcessive]

Good advice from others. Besides the saline soaked cotton ball to help soften the eye crusts, I would apply either Terramycin eye ointment or Vetricyn eye gel from your feed store, or plain Triple Antibiotic (Neosporin) Ointment twice a day into the eye. Offer moistened food, egg, and water at least twice a day since they are sightless and can’t find it now. There is a vaccine available online that you can give birds in the future who haven’t been exposed or gotten pox. Here is a good article with pictures and info:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/

 

[JustAnotherWeirdo]

Thank you much for the help! She sadly isn’t inside because I have a brooder in my bedroom and some chickens that constantly come inside so she’s placed in an empty enclosure I had with another hen who has a less severe case of it. I go out every few hours to help her get some food and water and then once I’m done with all the other chicken care duties for the day (so minimal risk of spreading it to them) I’ll go sit with her for a while further working on getting the eyes open :] Each time before I make any sound or touch her I also make sure to speak to her so she knows it’s just me and hopefully doesn’t get too stressed.

 

[Eggcessive]

As azygous posted, the virus cannsoread by handling of the scabs, so I would just briefly soften the eye crusts with warm saline, and apply a small dab of eye ointment. That may help keep the eyes from scabbing over.
What is your location? Are you in the US? Birds who survive fowl pox are immune to that strain of pox in the future. Any new chicks or flock additions can be exposed to pox by mosquitoes or fallen dusty scabs from the recovered birds. Here is a link for purchasing the vaccine:
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...MI39uIv4K8jQMVH0L_AR1oNw0aEAQYASABEgJF9fD_BwE

Here is info on giving the vaccine and age:
https://valleyvet.cvpservice.com/product/view/1506010

 

[JustAnotherWeirdo]

What is your location? Are you in the US?

I’m in Southern Africa

I’ve done quite a lot of research on the virus and vaccination against it so I do pretty thoroughly know how to treat and deal with it but this however is a far more severe case than any I’ve really read about or seen before so I came here for some extra help and advice

Below is a photo of her earlier very happily eating the bird seed I left out since it seemed easiest out of everything I have available for her to eat. Thankfully doesn’t seem like i will lose her from this disease but I am quite worried about her going permanently blind