How to treat wetpox with no vet around

[Jolanda Dedjaaj]

One of my chicken has wetpox. I handd feed her now but she has the yellow cheeselike stuff in her mouth and throat. I live in an area where are no specialised vets so is there a way to take the yellow stuff out of her mouth and throat? Does antibiotic (whick kind) help?

 

[Leahs Coop]

Hello, and a warm welcome to Backyard Chickens! It's great to have you here with us! I'm sorry I can't be of much help, but hopefully someone will pop in soon!

 

[The Phantom]

@casportpony

 

[AmyJane725]

A vet couldn't really help that much anyway. Wet pox is a virus. Can't give antibiotics to cure that. It's pretty much just supportive care.

Isolate her in your hospital crate, keep her warm and in a low traffic area of the house. Limit stress. Have fresh water and food always available. Making a soupy mash of her food can help if she's having trouble swallowing because of the lesions.

Giving 2,000 U/kg Vitamin A can help.

 

[Jolanda Dedjaaj]

Thanks Amy Jane, I have her seperated. And I'm trying to feed her as the lesions make it difficult for her to swallow. Will the lesions go? I read at a Dutch post that the owner was scratching the yellow parts away and that is was very smelly. Did anyone try this?

 

[AmyJane725]

Thanks Amy Jane, I have her seperated. And I'm trying to feed her as the lesions make it difficult for her to swallow. Will the lesions go? I read at a Dutch post that the owner was scratching the yellow parts away and that is was very smelly. Did anyone try this?

Unless the lesions are significantly impeding her ability to eat, drink or breathe removing them isn't advisable. The skin underneath is raw/will bleed and open her up to secondary infections on top of the pox.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of my chicken has wetpox. I handd feed her now but she has the yellow cheeselike stuff in her mouth and throat. I live in an area where are no specialised vets so is there a way to take the yellow stuff out of her mouth and throat? Does antibiotic (whick kind) help?

I have her seperated. And I'm trying to feed her as the lesions make it difficult for her to swallow. Will the lesions go? I read at a Dutch post that the owner was scratching the yellow parts away and that is was very smelly. Did anyone try this?

Hi @Jolanda Dedjaaj Welcome To BYC
Can you post some photos of the inside of her beak and of your chicken?

Does the yellow stuff inside the beak have a bad odor or no smell?

I am assuming what you read in a Dutch post where the owner was removing the yellow parts and had a smelly odor was Canker. Canker (Trichomonosis) is a caused by a protozoa infection which is very different from Avian Fowl Pox which is viral and usually spread by biting insects like Mosquitoes. Each would require a different treatment method.

With Fowl Pox, usually it will resolve on it's own, but antibiotic treatment may be used if there is secondary infection.

Try to get us some photos and let us know whether it smells bad or not.

 

[Jolanda Dedjaaj]

Hi Wyorp Rock, it's not easy to make pictures when I hold her with my left hand and try to make a picture with the right hand. This is what it lookes like:

 

[Jolanda Dedjaaj]

I don't think it smells bad. I will smell when I feed her at the end of the day. The "bag" under her beak is full with something and that makes it difficult for her to swallow her food.

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi There.
You have had excellent advise, up to now. Plus, i have not experienced,
it. But i was thinking would plain yogurt help her at all. Just thinking it will be nice
and cool, and easy for her to swallow. Bless her. She is beautiful with you.
Hope + pray she will be okay.