Okay to bathe a chicken with Fowl Pox?

[ChickensXOXO]

I've been wanting to get my little flock of silkies washed and groomed up nicely for Fall, as they got pretty dirty over the summer. Well, pretty much every one of them are getting over the fowl pox (dry pox), and I was wondering if it's okay to wash them now, or if I should wait a while longer?

Probably a silly question, but I don't want to wash them if it's going to do them any harm.

Oh, and I thought it might be good to get the spots where they had it cleaned up, but yeah, don't want to over do it with baths, if it's a problem.


Thanks!

 

[chickenzoo]

Just to be on the safe side, I'd wait a bit longer till they are over it. Any illness puts a stress on the birds immune system.... So I would avoid risking them getting wet.... I have that kind of luck however.... : )

 

[ChickensXOXO]

Just to be on the safe side, I'd wait a bit longer till they are over it. Any illness puts a stress on the birds immune system.... So I would avoid risking them getting wet.... I have that kind of luck however.... : )

I think one or two are over it because they're not getting no new sores, and the old ones are all dried up and scabby. I'll wait a while longer before washing them though, just to be safe.

Thanks.

 

[terryg]

Fowl Pox is a virus and some chickens suffer more than others. You have to weigh the benefits of the bath vs. stressing them. Do you have a good dust bath for your silkies? I keep a kitty litter tub of sand and food grade DE in the coop. Especially for silkies, it's important to stay clean by getting appropriately dirty.
BTW, I have a video on how to give a hen a bath. Done right they enjoy it and it's not at all stressful.
http://hencam.com/faq/how-to-give-a-chicken-a-bath/