How long are birds contagious after recovering from Fowl Pox?

[Amer]

Since the pox showed up in my flock (September 3) I vaccinated all the birds that weren't showing symptoms (September 7) and made the decision not to show any birds at the September poultry shows that I entered in. I'm not worried about the birds I've vaccinated but I do want to show in late October and I want to know how long before I can safely show the ones that did develop fowl pox symptoms besides the "take" from the vaccine? Are they still contagious after the scabs fall off? For how long?
Now that I know that the disease is prevalent in my area I'll be wiser and just vaccinate every summer.

 

[Debbie292d]

Since the pox showed up in my flock (September 3) I vaccinated all the birds that weren't showing symptoms (September 7) and made the decision not to show any birds at the September poultry shows that I entered in. I'm not worried about the birds I've vaccinated but I do want to show in late October and I want to know how long before I can safely show the ones that did develop fowl pox symptoms besides the "take" from the vaccine? Are they still contagious after the scabs fall off? For how long?
Now that I know that the disease is prevalent in my area I'll be wiser and just vaccinate every summer.

Boy oh boy is that ever a divisive question according to what I found. I've looked this up before for someone and thought this site was pretty spot on and simple.

This one's from Australia.

"Recovered birds do not remain carriers. A flock may be affected for several months as fowl pox spreads slowly."

Source: https://www.poultryhub.org/all-about-poultry/health-management/disease/fowl-pox

Now taking that and adding this site:

"Skin lesions (scabs) shed from recovering birds in poultry houses can become a source of aerosol exposure for susceptible birds." So thinking that means, if no more scabs, they are not contagious.

Source: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...n-chickens-and-turkeys#Epidemiology_v83909538

 

[Amer]

Boy oh boy is that ever a divisive question according to what I found. I've looked this up before for someone and thought this site was pretty spot on and simple.

This one's from Australia.

"Recovered birds do not remain carriers. A flock may be affected for several months as fowl pox spreads slowly."

Source: https://www.poultryhub.org/all-about-poultry/health-management/disease/fowl-pox

Now taking that and adding this site:

"Skin lesions (scabs) shed from recovering birds in poultry houses can become a source of aerosol exposure for susceptible birds." So thinking that means, if no more scabs, they are not contagious.

Source: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...n-chickens-and-turkeys#Epidemiology_v83909538

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know. Fortunately, my poxy birds have been moved outside into tractors so the scabs shouldn't cause an issue.

 

[Amer]

Idk why I am bad at Googling but I just could not find that information and I didn't want to just take someone's word for it.

 

[SourRoses]

I agree with the scabs being indicative.
We get it again in the youngsters every summer from the mosquitoes down here. Their behavior reverts to normal at the same time the scabs fall off which I think is a good sign the virus has run it's course. I clean the water buckets with bleach daily to try to avoid wet pox.

I've thought about doing the vaccinations. How challenging was that, to administer properly? Did the supplies cost a lot?

 

[FrostRanger]

I agree with the scabs being indicative.
We get it again in the youngsters every summer from the mosquitoes down here. Their behavior reverts to normal at the same time the scabs fall off which I think is a good sign the virus has run it's course. I clean the water buckets with bleach daily to try to avoid wet pox.

I've thought about doing the vaccinations. How challenging was that, to administer properly? Did the supplies cost a lot?

Nope, it's cheap and fairly easy, valley vet sells the vaccine and they give you everything you need. Note that one vial has enough for 10,000 doses so unless you're running a very large operation, you only need one

 

[Eggcessive]

Once a chicken has the strain of fowl pox they are immune to it in the future. The shed scabs remain contagious for weeks. Usually mosquitoes spread it, but since the scabs are contagious, I wouldn’t show any birds this fall. The vaccine has to be shipped in a cooler on ice, and it has to be used within an hour of mixing the 2 vials together. If any develop the wet pox inside the beak and throat that can remain infectious for months. If you Google fowl pox or fowl pox vaccine, there will be tons of reading. Both ValleyVet.com and JeffersPet.com sell the vaccine, coolers, and ice. They have a manufacturers label that you can read before you buy it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is the manufacturer’s label to read:
https://valleyvet.cvpservice.com/product/view/1506010

There is a vaccine for fowl pox only, and one for pox and bronchitis, so be sure to get the right one.

 

[Amer]

There's also a vaccine for pigeon pox. It is weaker. Less effective, but also it has less symptoms.
The pox vaccine is easy to administer. It uses a two prong needle, not a syringe. You punch it through the wing web.

since the scabs are contagious, I wouldn’t show any birds this fall.

No worries, I won't be showing the scabs.

 

[FrostRanger]

There's also a vaccine for pigeon pox. It is weaker. Less effective, but also it has less symptoms.

No worries, I won't be showing the scabs.

I've never noticed any adverse reaction to the regular fowl pox vaccine? Honestly? I'd just use the regular fowl pox vaccine since I think it might be similarly priced or cheaper anyways. I think I only paid like 13 bucks for a vial not including shipping