Please HELP... How can I save the rest ?

[Bedste]

My DF is the one with the chicken who died after her DH purchased the pair of bantams from the Conroe Chicken Show..... Now all of her 7 weekers are starting to have the same look. Right now it looks like dirt on their little combs. Is there any hope? Please help... Someone tell us what she should do to try and keep her already exposed 7 weekers from suffering the same fate as the one in the photo>

 

[PortageGirl]

I think cases as bad as the one you had are rare, most chickens recover on their own without such bad reactions. I don't think there's anything you can do once they're exposed except let it run it's course. Once they recover, they are immune to it afterwards, but can be carriers so any new birds should always be vaccinated against it, and kept away from the site for a short period of time till the immunity developes... not sure how long that is but I don't think it's very long and you should be able to ask at the time.

Did you ever see if there were leisions inside the mouth? If there were, then it's Wet Pox which is worse, but no difference in treatment as far as I could find.

 

[Bedste]

she is going to look in the mouth but hasn't yet. Next time i am there I will take a look see...

 

[Bedste]

Does this mean that she will not be able to merge these newbies with the existing flock without vaccinating the existing flock?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

We adopted an adult chicken who either came with or developed fowl pox. It exhibited as yellow lesions on her face and wattles, eventually turning dark and then falling off. i bought the fowl pox vaccination from Murray McMurray and had my vet vaccinate all of my birds. No one else contracted it, or else they developed a mild case and recovered without incident. Once they are vaccinated, they are immune for life. Also, after contracting it and recovering, they are immune for life. i *think* that the virus can only be transmitted by contact with an active lesion, or being bitten by a mosquito that has previously bitten a bird with the active virus.

The only treatment i have read about is dabbing iodine on the lesions when they are active (yellowish and pussy), to help dry them up. If your chickens develop the wet pox (lesions inside the mouth and nose), i have read that it is helpful to wipe the lesions with a q-tip dipped in iodine, to wipe off any pussy build-up. Death occurs when the wet pox lesions puff up and block breathing.

You should also bulk up the diet on your existing birds with plain yogurt, vitamins in the water (like avia charge 2000), and making sure the pens are clean and dry. All this to keep them healthy in general so their bodies can handle the virus.

It doesn't have to be lethal, and i truly hope your other birds will be okay.

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
Yes that's what it means, and all that Enchanted Sunrise said as well. As horrifying as it was, and as sad as it is that that roo was so bad off, it's not the end of the world for the others.

 

[threehorses]

The method of spread is not chicken to chicken. It is via mosquito (or biting insect vector) and via the dropped scabs. Chickens that live are immune. That does not mean they are carriers. They simply have the ability to immediately defenses if they're exposed to it again, they won't develop it again. They do NOT shed it.

For dry (not wet) pox, yes - you try to curb secondary bacterial infections caused by the virus-caused lesions by dabbing each lesion in straight, not dilute, iodine. Yes it burns - and yes you want it to. Just use a dampened (with iodine) q-tip on each lesion.

If there are lesions by the mouth, use listerine but not where they can drink it - use on a dampened q-tip. If by the eye, use neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment (without painkillers and without any cortisone products - they end in 'sone) and watch the eye for involvement.

Boost the immune system with good nutrition and vitamins for the first week at least. The duration is approximately 4 weeks. Then the scabs will all drop. If you can, replace the bedding. But otherwise your birds will not recatch it. You may have birds get pox from the scabs, but usually it's a minor illness best just weathered.

In the case of wet pox, you must peel the cheesy exudate from off of the roof of the mouth. If you can get Lucol's solution iodine you can use that (PM for details - do not just use on your own), but all other iodines are toxic when ingested. In this case, it's best to use oil-based vitamins (not the water packets) like your polyvisol, 3 drops in the beak daily, and try to keep the airways cleared from the cheesy exudate. death is not to the disease, it's to suffocation d.t. the exudate or secondary infections.

'Hope this helps clarify that you can mix them in with the flock. Honestly I never separate them as I assume the rest of my flock that hadn't developed it in previous years likely ALSO has it, just without symptoms.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I just started using Oxine without Citric Acid added, so not sure how well it works yet. But, it's a disinfectant for fungicidal, bactericidal and virucidal. It has demonstrated efficacy against these animal viruses: Avian Influenza A virus, PRRS Virus, Canine Parvovirus, Coxsackie Virus, Pseudorabies Virus, Newcastle Disease Virus, Foot and Mouth disease virus, swine Vesicular Disease Virus, African Swine Fever Virus.

It destroys odors too.

You can use it in a fogger. If you add Citric Acid to it, you have to remove all animals, food and water. You also have to use a regulated respirator mask ?? I can't remember which one, but it is a specific one.

I use it at 1/8 tsp per gallon in drinking water every other day. Helps keep bacteria down and slime down. I haven't had anymore pasty butt since I started putting it in their drinking water. May just be a coincidence.

Also, if I have a chick that does not look good I will use a fine mister and mist over the face so that they can breathe it into their air way. Helps kill the viruses and bacteria. I had a chick that kept falling over yesterday and I have misted his face twice now. Seems to be doing better, he hasn't fell over anymore, since last night.

I think anything is worth a try, esp if they are dieing.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Threehorses, thank you for replying. I was getting a bit concerned about the not quite accurate to incomplete information earlier in the thread.

I do recommend separating the birds who are infected from those who are not, and also spraying the coop nightly with mosquito repellant.

On a different thread (not fowl pox) someone recommended using contact lens storage solution (which contain antimicrobials) as a good eye cleaning solution for viral/fungal infections. I've never tried it, but it makes sense.

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
It's no problem. I don't want people to panic unnecessarily. There are enough worrying things with chickens without one more.

Hmmm, I've seen that advice on the contact lens storage solution before. I think I'd have to read the label to see exactly what is killing bacteria... ya know? Worth a shot though.