Welp... I guess my son's flock is done for....

[DDnKyraJean]

As I'm sure many of you considered this when I first asked about Nacho being sick with possible fowl pox......yeah she died friday in my arms.....and now BaoBao has it. My son is done. He says if none of the birds make it he's not bothering to replace them. I showed him where to get the vaxx for them. MAYBE we can save his 4 chicks that are inside his house. I'm sad bcuz next will be Colonel Sanders...the Rhode Island Red that jumped in the pool to rescue me when I went under water. DAMN IT WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN! CHICKS SHOULD NOT BE SOLD IN THE SOUTH WITHOUT THE VAXX!! It's not right!

 

[GlicksChicks]

I have multiple chickens who went through fowl pox. And it was not pretty. But none died.

Do they have the wet fowl pox, where it gets into their mouths? That is the most fatal version.

 

[DDnKyraJean]

I have multiple chickens who went through fowl pox. And it was not pretty. But none died.

Do they have the wet fowl pox, where it gets into their mouths? That is the most fatal version.

No it's the dry type. I am going to the feed store for the vax tomorrow. HOW did none of your's die????? Did you have to tube feed them??

 

[Altairsky]

I had several birds (pigeons) that went through pox virus with no problems. Even one of my finches got it and survived (he lost a few fingers though). The dry type shouldn't be lethal. IMHO if they are dying you should look at a different explanation, like for example a weak immune system caused by some sort of nutritional deficiency. I'd give them a multi vitamin in the water, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables as support therapy.

 

[SmiYa0126]

I'm so sorry! Clean the pox marks with betadeine, give them nutri drench in their water to drink. If they don't have an appetite offer sweetened water to whet their appetite. Brew echinacea tea overnight and offer that as drinking water (alternate between that and nutri drench). Offer raw yolk, cooked ground beef, venison, organ meat, this will boost their nutrition.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have any pictures of the pox scabs? How old are they? Most grown chickens can fight off pox, unless they get the wet kind. Are the ones dying able to see to get food and water? Making sure they get those can help with survival. Fowl pox lasts about 3 weeks. You can get fowl pox vaccine from online stores (valleyvet and Jefferspet) but you need to follow the age requirements. Keep the chicks away from mosquitoes as that is how it is spread. Scabs may fall off and become powdery, which the chicks can inhale and still become infected later.

 

[FrostRanger]

Sorry for your loss
Went through wet fowl pox last year and lost 2 of my 4 birds
Chicks can't be sold already vaccinated for fowl pox 'cause it can't be given until they're 8 weeks old. Not to mention some people feel strongly about not using any vaccines or whatnot for various reasons
Thankfully if she just has the dry version she should be just fine. Ik it's rough, but hang in there, this too shall pass. Just vaccinate the chicks once they're old enough and keep an eye on your current sick bird

 

[GlicksChicks]

No it's the dry type. I am going to the feed store for the vax tomorrow. HOW did none of your's die????? Did you have to tube feed them??

I did not tube feed then at all. They just lived like normal in the flock. Maybe 5/30 of my chickens got the fowl pox. They didn't look to pretty, but they kept acting like normal. They were laying eggs and eating like they usually do.

It could be possible that the fowl pox is not your only issue. It could be good to do a necropsy on the dead ones.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

What food are you feeding them including extras? What supplements? An adult bird should have no problem surviving dry fowl pox if being fed proper nutrition.

 

[Altairsky]

Just to give you a bitter laugh, a few years ago I phone someone who called himself "avian vet" if I could have my pet birds vaccinated for pox (there was an outbreak among feral pigeons). I got scolded and laughed at for asking (I didn't know they sold thousands of doses at once).
So my birds got it in the end.