How Long For Fowlpox To Run Through The Coops?

[NorthernHomestead]

I have two coops. We have approximately 40-50 hens and we're getting 18-20 eggs a day for the entire summer. I had a couple of moody hens that were vocal and stopped laying. I assumed they were just broody and moody. This week I noticed two of my large roos with black spots all over their combs and waddles. I looked it up. Looks just like fowlpox. I live in a swampy area and we've lost random chickens out of the blue to breathing problems. I can assume that was wet fowlpox and these roos have dry fowlpox (along with any hens that are moody and not laying as frequently as they should). How long does this virus take to run through 70-80 chickens (we have about thirty chicks and eight roos on top of all the mentioned hens). I'd rather let nature take it's course and not build extra coups to house sick chickens. It's a common chicken virus and if the thought of an illness killing some of my chickens would throw me into hysterics, it'd be the wrong lifestyle to live for me. Husband and I both work full time. We give our birds a good life, but they aren't pets.

Assuming they started passing this around at the beginning of summer when the mosquitoes were at full peak and knowing that a couple of the roos are full faced with black scabbed over pox, how many more months should I anticipate this likely running its course?

 

[NorthernHomestead]

Sorry if I sound cold, but I have an in-law that's been paying thousands in vet bills for cortisone shots and paying hundreds for vet recommended dog food to finally put down a 25 year-old dog that's been in misery for years. The in-law has been asking to put the dog down and the vet assured her that it wasn't the dog's time (while milking her dry with expensive treatments). Talked to a co-worker this morning that's facing a few thousand in vet bills to lance something the vet just treated and it got infected. Vets are vultures here. My dog just got stung by bees - I weighed him and treated him with a weighed out bit of human Benadryl appropriate for his size. I barely make the time to see a doctor myself and I have decent health insurance. :-/

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I don’t think you sound cold, just pragmatic. I would do the same. I think it took 3-4 weeks last time my chickens had it but they can pick it up from scabs that have fallen on the ground so it depends on your setup.

Here is an article that might help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tion-treatment-and-more-graphic-photos.76069/

 

[NorthernHomestead]

Deep litter. Pretty sure it was going unnoticed til this week when the roos got it and their faces turned black. Thought it was weird when some hens had a bit of frostbite on their combs this summer. And a couple were super vocal and moody. Only had chickens for almost two years.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I agree, I don't think you sound cold. I'm sorry, I don't know anything about fowl pox or how to answer your question. But I wanted to say that.

There are people who consider their chickens pets or family and will spare no expense. Then there are those for whom chickens are a resource. Food and/or income. They aren't emotionally attached. And there are people who are kind of in between, which I think is where I am. I love my birds, but if it comes to even finding a vet that will treat chickens and expensive vet bills or culling, I have to cull. It's what works for my family.

Nothing is wrong with either approach. It's what works for your situation. I hope this runs its course soon and your flock is all good again.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Deep litter.

You might consider changing it out. I know that’s a pain but it might hurry the pox along. Wait until you haven’t seen scabs for a few weeks then start again