How do you treat POX?

[californiachick74]

I suddenly have noticed that 3 of my buffs have developed weird dark spots on their combs and ears. Also feathers are missing on upper chest. This has all started within the last 24 hours. The spots almost look like "mold" spots. This is the best way to describe it. Can anyone help?? Thx in advance. I will try and post some pictures later when I have someone here to hold the hen for me to snap a photo.

 

[lovinthechickens]

Sounds like pox...

 

[californiachick74]

Can you give me more info?

 

[DTchickens]

yep. definately pox (i think). comes from mosquitos. all you can do is let it "ride out" and seperate the birds. wash your clothes/shoes. and maybe.. take a bath before having contact with the other birds after handling the infected one(S) this will narrow the chances of spreading it.. but can still get it through mosquitoes.. have heard you can draw on the pox with a Sharpie. or put toothpaste on it to dry them out faster, also black shoe polish. but never tried it myself

-Daniel

 

[californiachick74]

Interesting!!! Is it life threatning? And how quickly can it or will it spread to the other chickens? Is it people contagious too?

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
i've never heard of it bothering people. and it can spread to chickens pretty fast, depending on if they've drinked from the same water or not, etc (i believe thats how it spreads through flocks.. may get it from just being close period.. ) have heard it can be life threatening if not treated and gets out of hand. but rarely hear of it..

-Daniel

 

[californiachick74]

Thx so kindly for your info. I have posted a few pics. I know they arent the greatest but will have to do until the morning. So toothpaste on the spots will help huh? Do you know the duration of this? Also what about the eggs they lay should I discard them?

 

[d.k]

* It's not supposed to be transmittable to people. Apparently, it is "going around" because I've seen quite an uptick in fowlpox posts of late. I THINK it's generally non-fatal to most. . ., but listen for the experts on that. As to eggs, no idea. HOWEVER, I wonder if fertile eggs hatched from a pox survivor are immune in the next gen or 2??

 

[MandyH]

It isn't contagious until the lesion erupts. After it has crusted over it is no longer contagious. They get it from mosquito bites and once they have had it, they are immune to it. You have to watch for the WET pox that develop in the throat and mouth. These lesions can cause the bird to not eat or drink and die. Other than that, leave them alone and give them a couple weeks and they will be fine.

 

[DTchickens]

i've never heard of fowl pox infecting eggs. It just bothers the carrier really. (that i know of) not sure how long pox last. i THINK around a month though, its been so long since i've dealt with pox. or had to "help" anyone with them i've forgotten how long it lasts. and my memory is horrible this week. pretty sure about a month though..

-Daniel