Please help...could be Avian Pox?? not sure

[Newbietochickens]

Okay...I am very new to keeping chickens. I have only had them for a month. I have a flock of 21 birds. I have been researching a lot and stumbled on a posting about Avian Pox...after seeing the "wart like" bumps on the comb...I noticed that my rooster also has the same bumps...they are all black. Do you think it is Avian Pox...and if so should I seperate him and what do I give the rest of the flock to prevent the spread? I am so freaking out right now...please help.

 

[threehorses]

It's likely Avian pox.

Does it look like any of these:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-diseases-AvianPox.html

Avian pox is a virus so there's no need to treat with antibiotics. The lesions (sores) can sometimes become infected with bacteria as a secondary infection. To help reduce the chances of that, dot each sore with a q-tip soaked in straight iodine. On sores near the eye, use Neosporin ointment. On sores near the mouth, use a q-tip soaked in Listerine. Then Iodine.

Support his healing and the others' immunity (as they could be fighting this asymptomatically - without symptoms) with vitamins. Cod liver oil or fortified (read the label for A, D, E fortification) sprayed on the feed twice weekly during the illness. Use a travel-sized hand-held spray bottle from the cosmetic section of drug stores or Walmart for that. Fortified wheat germ oil can be found in many feed stores in the horse section. Cod liver oil should be pourable, not in capsules. The vitamin A helps mucus membrane health. The vitamin E increases skin healing and provides anti-oxidants as well as being naturally anti-inflammatory.

If any birds get a secondary infection (localized swelling of the skin, particularly near eye or mouth lesions) then use Penicillin injections for a period of a week to cure. Penicillin G procaine is readily found in most feedstores (their fridge). Buy 3 cc syringes with 18 gauge needles. Many feed stores sell the 3 cc syringes complete with screw-on 25 gauge needles but those needles are too small. Just buy the loose 18 gauge needles remove the 25cc ones and replace with the 18 gauge just before using. You must shake penicillin for what seems like hours before using as it's stored in the fridge and the particles of the medicine settle on the bottom. When it's done, then pull the amount of med you need and while it's in the syringe let it come to room temp. (Put the big vial back in the fridge). PM me with whatever penicillin you get for a dosage if you have to do this.

You shouldn't have to worry about secondary infection if you treat all the lesions. BEST way of doing it would be remove the lesions but they're very very very hard to pull off. You can try dotting some not near the eyes/mouth with hydrogen peroxide to soften them. But at least dotting with the strong straight iodine should help.

If you see any lethargic birds, symptoms or not, pull them to the side and isolate. Check them carefully for cheesy exudates in the roof of the mouth.

Normal:

Wet pox:

In any case, if there are any changes please update *this* thread as you'll have at least one subscriber (me).

By the way, this takes about 4 weeks to clear. There might be more lesions, others might get them (no need to isolate - it's most often spread by insect vector anyway so likely they've all been exposed or will be), some might not show any signs. All birds who are exposed and get the virus (symptoms or not) will thereafter be completely immune. YAY!

In my case the scabs stayed on the full 4 weeks and then dropped off in one day. In my chickens, I noticed that the scabs looked more brown than black two days before dropping. The edges seemed to pull away from the skin and look less dark. Then they were all gone in a day. If you can, remove the bedding and discard (throw away - don't dump elsewhere on the property) as the scabs are infective.

If you have turkeys be prepared as they get it and they get it VERY badly. If you ever get turkeys, and keep them on the same grounds then I'd highly consider vaccinating for pox. You can also vaccinate your new birds for it, but usually pox is more cosmetic and a little decreased immune system and not a big issue. The main thing is to watch for lesions near the mouth and eyes and treat them very thoroughly.

Please let me know if I can be of any help to you at all.

 

[Newbietochickens]

Thanks for the reply....I went a held the roo and took some photos....I noticed that you wrote that the "spots/wart like things" would be hard to get off...but they were not...they actually just flaked off like a scab...I tried to study them very carefully while I had him and they don't seem to have any sort of puss or infection at all...they mostly just remind me of a scab....I am very new to this and trying to figure out how to post the pics on here for you to take a look at ...thanks.

By the way...I am sure this is not a pure bred roo...but does anyone know what he is??

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Are any other birds coming down with the scabs? If not, it could be that your boy got into a fight with another bird.

He looks to be crele coloured, but I can't help with breed--can't see enough of him to offer an opinion.

 

[MandyH]

That doesn't look like pox, that looks like fight bites. Do you have another rooster in with this one?

 

[threehorses]

Were these pictures before or after scabs were removed? I wonder if it is pox - but in any case, the immune boosting could help with any stress he experienced if he was with other roos. If this is after picking scabs, then I'm glad yours came off easier. Mine in the last few years were easier - this year it was just impossible. And yes- they shouldn't look infected yet because they usually don't. But when they do, it's really hard to fix because their immune system is already lowered. So the iodine dotting is to prevent infection with their lowered immune system.

He looks pretty good - though I had to laugh because the first picture it looks a bit like you're squishing him (and only laughing because I know you aren't).

He is a nice looking boy. I'd just continue on the same, watch for other scabs and treat if more come up (common with pox - it can increase over the four weeks), watch behavior for fighting if he's in with other boys. Though usually their wounds are more flat, shiney, not at all ashy, and don't scab the same. I actually rarely ever see scabs - it more often looks like dried blood or the mark from a "sharpy" marker.

 

[Bedste]

threehorses..... did you loose any chickens when your flock had this? did you have wet and dry pox? Should I vaccinate all the 5-8 weekers in the flock?

 

[sammi]

here is some info about Pox..

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/poultry-health/fowl-pox.html

just try and wash the spots and see if they wash off..
could be peck marks..
but doesn't hurt to treat as others suggested..with diluted betadine or iodine, extra nutrients, etc..

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
I've never lost any chickens or turkeys, no.

I have known one to be lost - but that one had a secondary infection, well two - another had a mouth infection.

For most healthy flocks, pox isn't that bad. WET pox however is serious business. I'm talking about dry pox (including the two deaths).

The way I determine the difference between pox and other marks is this:

Pox marks are usually raised scabs. Peck marks usually look like black sharpie marks.

If you decide to vaccinate, I really don't see the purpose of vaccinating those from this year. Likely they were asymptomatic and already exposed. In my personal experience, I've had a lot of chickens "miss" pox the first year and they never ever got it thereafter. I really do believe a great deal of birds will get it without outward symptoms, just the virus, and develop the immunity like that. I've never had a single case otherwise.

Definitely if you don't want to deal with pox, vaccinate all new young birds in following years or hatches.

And yes - the beauty of the immunity boosting treatment is that it's good for whatever the situation.

 

[diddlysquat]

Thank you for your detailed experience with Avian Pox. Really, really helpful.

Here is what the UC Davis/Ag Science pdf says about treatment:

"Treatment:
Prevention by vaccination is better than treatment. However, individual affected birds in small flocks may be treated. Swab lesions in mouth, throat, or nostrils with a 15% solution of argyrol or Lugol's Solution of iodine (available at most pharmacies) either before or after removal of the cankers. Lugol's Solution consists of 5% free iodine plus 10% potassium iodide in a an aqueous solution. Iodine must be used carefully on internal surfaces.
Paint pock marks on the comb, wattles, or other external areas with Lugol's Solution. "

http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/avian/Fowlpox.pdf