Very very sick hen

[Macadamie]

I have a hen who went through a fairly mild trauma (dog got hold of her, but she was not injured per se, mostly sobbered on, no bleeding, some feathers missing). My flock went through fowl pox maybe a year and a half ago, but she has come back up with it, I'm sure from the trauma. I put her in my ICU but just in the last couple of days this has gotten way out of hand. I expected her to pass last night, but she pulled through. I do not have access to any local bird vets. She is horribly scabbed over, but now has plaques around her mouth that also smell quite bad today. Her breathing is quite labored. I am administering what I can but blind chickens don't cooperate well and I'm fearful of drowning her. Does anyone have any advice on a severe case wet pox? One vet I called suggested to remove the plaques, what do I have to lose, but I am unsure how.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a hen who went through a fairly mild trauma (dog got hold of her, but she was not injured per se, mostly sobbered on, no bleeding, some feathers missing). My flock went through fowl pox maybe a year and a half ago, but she has come back up with it, I'm sure from the trauma. I put her in my ICU but just in the last couple of days this has gotten way out of hand. I expected her to pass last night, but she pulled through. I do not have access to any local bird vets. She is horribly scabbed over, but now has plaques around her mouth that also smell quite bad today. Her breathing is quite labored. I am administering what I can but blind chickens don't cooperate well and I'm fearful of drowning her. Does anyone have any advice on a severe case wet pox? One vet I called suggested to remove the plaques, what do I have to lose, but I am unsure how.

Can you please post some photos? Scabs, inside of beak and hen?

 

[Macadamie]

I can't hold her and take pictures inside and I'm the only one available. Am attaching pictured of how she looks on the outside, but I am certain she has things going on in the windpipe due to her labored breathing and the plaques that are around her beak. I just knew she would die last night and the poor baby is still going.

 

[Macadamie]

This is how she is breathing, through her mouth. Her breath is quite bad now and a couple days ago was okay. The ag extension people have given her zero hope but I'm just wondering about the interior lesions....do they continue to grow like cancer?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@casportpony @Eggcessive

Poor thing
Hard to know if she can pull through with this especially with all that mess inside her beak.
Tubing fluids into her would be necessary for sure.

The lesions may get worse before they get better.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. That appears to be a very bad case of pox. @casportpony has treated several in her flock a few years ago that looked like that and worse. Tube feeding is probably going to be needed to help her survive. Are there any plaques blocking the inside of her beak or throat? I would use some plain Neosporin into her eyes to help prevent a secondary bacterial infection. Pox being a virus, will not respond to antibiotics.

 

[Macadamie]

What sort of tubing, and how far? Is there any kind of guide? I am willing to try anything. She is a good bird, I hate to lose her but I am fighting a haed battle to get her to drink anything when she is struggling to breathe so much.

 

[Eggcessive]

Aquarium air tubing, a 15 inch section of it, can be used to tube fluids and some thin foods. That will connect to a standard syringe from a feed store, usually a 35 ml. A larger size regular feeding tube would be better for thicker foods and fits a catheter tipped syringe, and may be purchased from a vet or online. Here is a good article about giving small amounts of fluids or medicines down the right side of the back of the throat with a syringe:
https://unitedpeafowlassociation.org/articles/oral-medication-dosing-of-peafowl/

Here is some info on tube feeding:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/go-team-tube-feeding-updated-12-29-2019.805728/

 

[Macadamie]

I looked at the peafowl guide, and all I have on hand at the moment is a tiny syringe, no tubing, and I am alone so this will have to do. Her throat will look like the bird in the post? As long as I avoid the trachea, I can pour water down her without getting it into her lungs?

 

[Macadamie]

I was able to get some fluids down her, not a whole lot but definitely better than I was doing. Side note, I figured out how to help her breathe - I noticed she had the most trouble breathing while laying down, so I wrapped her loosely in a towel and propped her breast on a rolled up towel and left her in a small laundry basket for now. She is able to finally rest, and is not gasping for air. It looks stupid, I know, but she is resting easy for the first time in days! I will check on her frequently tonight though, just to make sure she stays comfortable.