Pox with babies on the way

[MotherHen785102]

So about a week ago I posted that I noticed one of my hens has dry pox. Since then my broody developed dry pox which has now turned into wet, open lesion on eye lid and one on her cheek area. She has a clutch of eggs that are due to hatch in less than a week. What do I do? I’ve read that pox can severely impact chicks, often causing scabs that can prevent them from eating and drinking. The eggs are not hers, I bought them from a farm because I don’t have a rooster. Thanks in advance.

Sincerely, a worried chicken mama.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is a hard one to decide on, but you could either let her hatch and hope for the best, or raise them in a brooder. Have her pox scabs gotten any worse since your last thread? I would paint them with Betadine to help dry them up, but otherwise don’t disturb the scabs. Are there still mosquitoes about?

 

[MotherHen785102]

A week ago this particular hen was displaying very minor/no symptoms. Over the week they have gotten worse. The other hen that has it is still dry. My guess is because she is broody, her immune system is down and cannot fight it as well as the other. My older hen has no symptoms at all, she may have gotten it before and I never even noticed (she is about 2 years old, and the only remaining bird from my first flock (predators got 4 of them over the course of 2 years)).

We are in Texas, so mosquitos are usually present up until the first frost which was only last week. Although not as bad as summer. I have decided to start vaccinating any new birds we add in the future (as well as these chicks, if they make it). I have heard there is a vaccine for day old chickies, but that its harder to come by. Idk if it will be too late though.

 

[Eggcessive]

Most vaccine that I have seen sold online is for chicks 8 weeks and older. It sounds like you could lose the broody if she is not fed and watered. I would give her some vitamins with electrolytes (something like Poultry Cell or NutriDrench) as well. Can you look inside her break for any yellow lesions or gunk? Are the chicks all set to hatch at the same time? Here is some reading about pox:
http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/fowl-pox-backyard-flocks

 

[MotherHen785102]

She is eating and drinking. I keep food in the laying box with her and I see her getting water (also see the tell tale giant poops near the waterer). I will check her mouth tomorrow for gunk or lesions. At this point I’m fairly certain the hen will pull through. What is most pressing to me is figuring out what to do about the chicks that will hatch soon. Yes they are all set to arrive the same time.

 

[Honey Meadows]

I've been dealing with fowl pox and I have very young chicks - my older chickens got over it fine, but the younger ones really struggled. I had to use antibiotics on all the younger chickens, because some of them did die. I'd spring for an incubator and go from there. I'm also in TX and fowlpox and other stuff hit my area of ETX really hard.

 

[Eggcessive]

I love having broodies raise chicks, but it sounds like you may need to hatch them yourself and raise them. I’m a little fuzzy about whether or not the broody can pass the pox to them before she hatches them. Hopefully not. Look like they can get it easily through contact with scabs, dander, and feathers. The scabs remain infectious for months after falling.