Help!

[g&h farm]

I have a 1.5yr old broad breasted white hen. I have noticed she lookes like shes molting,shes loosing feathers on her chest and has pin feathers. Well today I went out and noticed she has little blister like sores on her head and chest, any idea what this could be? I thought maybe ants got to her because she keeps tryin to sit but there so many of them and so spread out. She is the sweeest thing, I hate for her to be sick and suffering because I dont know how to help her. I tried to research but cant find anything. Help!!

 

[Breac]

I don't really know what's causing the sores, but I know that most Broad-breasted turkeys don't live very long lives due to weight problems. Since they get so heavy, they start getting joint problems at an early age and often become lame. I don't really know what to recommend, other than a restricted feed diet. You might be able to slow her weight problems, but unfortunately, her breed was one that was never meant to live a long, happy life. At this point, I'd just keep an eye on her and try to make her as comfortable as possible. I'm very sorry.

 

[ivan3]

Do the `blisters' look anything like: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=422436 ?

If so, this thread has more info.: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=216215

Post up a shot if possible, (particularly the `blisters' on breast).

Mix in DE/Sevin in area around nest to suppress ants, hunt down the source(s) and rub them out.

 

[g&h farm]

Wow yep thats it. Poor baby, so now I guess my chickens will get it too, ugh. While she is a broad breasted white, we have not aloud her to become huge, she does very well. I know about the short life span for them, but she still runs and loves life. She no longer flys but she did and broad breasted arent supposed to be able to fly. She didnt fly long distances but she would fly up on top of the coop. We love her, hopefully she will get passed this pox thing. We know that shes not going to live forever but she has alot of life in her still.

 

[ivan3]

Nice turk. Our neighbor's BBB hen was just about 3.5yr. old when she was killed by a raccoon on her nest (neighbor had successfully hatched BBB+Bourbon poults for two years - coon got the girl and the last clutch). I think another member posted that their BB hen was at least 5 years old.

Threehorse's advice in the second thread listed is useful for dry pox. Should clear up with time and `iodine'.

Take care and good luck!

 

[g&h farm]

Thanks! Shes looking better today, pocks are scabbing already. Poor girl she hadnt been herself but today shes looking good, out foraging again and feathers are filling back in from her molt. Looking like she should be fine, but today I did notice 2 of my cochins looking like they might have it too! Black on their combs, which is how it says it show on chickens and one wont come out of the nesting box ugh. I brought in 2 new chickens a while back, they might have brought it. Also we have 5 acres 3 of which is wooded and we have buzzards of all things that roost here and they hang out with the animals like they are one of the flock, so maybe they brought it? grrrr I have had chickens for 5yrs and never had anything like this.

 

[ivan3]

Yes, without a closed flock in an indoor aviary, the potential for some `bad thing' arriving on the freaky fluky is impossible to predict. We just try to check our birds daily for any `sign'.
Glad she's better, hope the chooks only get a mild case.

 

[Baybrio]

I've read fowl pox is transmitted by mosquito. I had three young birds with this late last summer. Since then I've also read that you should vaccinate the remaining birds immediately to reduce the risk that they will get it. By the time I read that we were past mosquito season, but this everybody is vaccinated.

 

[g&h farm]

Well from what I have read and now heard they will now be immune to it, well at least the ones that have it, so thats good. My poor little birchen hen is not doing well though. She is my absolute favorite and so sweet. She only has one eye so she has been issolated from the flock and kept with the youger birds because they beat her up well the other day I let her out for a little while and they got her again, now shes not doing well.

 

[g&h farm]

Well my precious little birchen hen passed last night. My poor little girl. The others just would not accept her, I think because she only had one eye. It always amazes me how cruel chickens can be to eat other to peck another chickens head down to the brain, awful. But on a good note I will be hatching one of her babies out this Sunday, hopefully is will be a pullet so I can keep her.