My chickens are falling apart...HELP!

[jannellynn]

We have 3 roosters and 5 hens, some RIR, some production and a couple Americunas. 1 RIR rooster has a very bad case of pox on his wattles and combs and is voluntarily keeping his distanct from the rest of the flock. This morning I noticed that the other 2 roosters has started with pox on their combs as well. I have read that there is nothing to do to treat for this, just to let it run it course. Any suggestions?

Also this morning I noticed one Americuna hen is missing A LOT of feathers from her right side. It is a clear missing batch, straight down to the skin, apprx. 3 in. in diameter. There seems to be a single scabbed over punture wound and the majority of the area looks like a healing scar. I don't know what caused this or what to do about it. In checking the rest of the flock, the 1 RIR with the bad case of pox has this same missing patch of feathers on his neck, but a smaller area.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tulie13]

Wow - sounds like you have a lot on your hands! For the pox, assuming it's "dry pox" (that's the more common kind) it is a viral thing and can't really be treated, once they have passed it thru the flock they shouldn't get it again (I believe). You might want to put some antibiotic ointment or iodine on the pox, as it can get infected as it scabs. For antibiotic ointment, don't use the kind with any "pain relief" ending in a "-caine" like Procaine or Lidocaine.

Regarding the other wounds and missing feathers - is there anything sharp in the coop they could be running into and scraping themselves on? Can you post any pics?

 

[Imp]

I think tulie... is right about the pox.
The wounds sound like it could be the rooster

Imp

 

[jannellynn]

RIR with worst pox:

And the RIR missing tuft of hair on neck:

Production with pox, not as severe:

Americuna with missing feathers and scab/scar:

 

[La_TomboyGirl]

Could those last pics of wounds be caused during mating? It looked like a gash from a spur maybe? And the neck feathers might be pulled out the same way, or between sparring roos. Not sure, as I have only 1 roo & he's real gentleman. Hope it works out though!

 

[Chris09]

I could be wroung but that dont look like Fowl Pox. Look more like the Roosters fighting..

But if it is Fowl Pox you need to treat Terramycin to prevent secondary infections...

Chris

 

[jannellynn]

The hen punture would/missing feathers could be from mating I suppose. She is laying and is one of the roosters 'favorites'

.

We had a hen with pox last season and it did get a lot worse with her before it got better. It looked just like what the rooster has. I was told then just to let it run it's course and that there was nothing I could do, other than to put iodine or ointment on it to help with healing.

 

[sourland]

Whether it's from fighting or fowl pox, you have way too many roosters for five hens. The hen damage definately looks as if it has been caused by the roosters.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
ditto. Looks like fighting and overbreeding.

Is it muddy or wet where you are, or are the birds always that "greasy" looking???

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
ditto. Looks like fighting and overbreeding.

Is it muddy or wet where you are, or are the birds always that "greasy" looking???

I agree. I don't think you have fowl pox in your flock, just too many roosters. With only five hens you should get rid of two of the roosters. The hen's injury is undoubtably from overmating and that will only get worse.

ETA: The one roo is not keeping his distance because he's sick, he just got his tail kicked and isn't going to risk it again until he heals up a bit.