Wet and Dry Fowl Pox - Graphic Pictures of Pus and Scabs

[IrishAcreFarm]

Kathy, thank you for starting his thread, wow, I cant even imagine!! I had a small episode of dry pox in the beginning of the summer, but I luckily did not get anything severe, and was limited to a very small seperated flock. Are these girls considered contagious to my other flocks who never got it? I havent been able to find out if this is one of the permanent viruses that the chicken sheds for the rest of its life.

 

[mejumpmore1]

Here is my Lucy. She's taking it easy. She's been resting and when I went out to take her picture she refused to open her left eye. However, after taking pictures I picked her up and spoke softly to her and she did manage to get her eye open on her own. Her best buddy, Ethel is on the back end of fowl pox and is making a full recovery. This is, of course, post pus removal. (the "puss" was quite firm and almost cyst-like). I'm going to be keeping a close watch on her eyes to keep any further growths at bay as best as possible.

Nearly half of my girls have dry pox. They all seem to be fine and only have a mild case. Ethel and Lucy have been the worst and they are the youngest of the bunch. When I eventually get more chickens, I think I'll be vaccinating them against fowl pox. This has not been a fun experience, I worry so much about my sweet austrolorps!

 

[casportpony]

When you open the lids can you see her eye?

-Kathy

 

[mejumpmore1]

Yes, the eye is still there and intact. She's maybe just a little photo sensitive right now? I'm not really sure. She did open her eye for me and all looks good at this time...she's still only a few days into getting these growths in her eye though. I'm sure we have a bit of an uphill battle ahead. She has been a little on the lazy side lately. Though she scarfed down the food I prepped for her this morning (oatmeal, scrambled eggs and feed crumbles) and has been drinking well also.

 

[casportpony]

Sounds like she'll be just fine with what you're doing.

-Kathy

 

[mejumpmore1]

I sure hope so. I stay home with my son and homeschool so I have the ability to keep close watch on her, thankfully. My worry is that if something were to happen to either Lucy or Ethel that the survivor may not last long. They are so attached to each other. When I allow them and the other girls to roam the yard Lucy and Ethel are always paired up and off by themselves. Usually camped out under the utility trailer or lounging by the privacy fence.

 

[casportpony]

I usually weigh mine every few days to ensure they're drinking/eating enough. To quote my vet "it's not usually the disease that kills them, it's dehydration and starvation". Have three right now that aren't eating enough, so they get tube fed at least twice a day.

-Kathy

 

[mejumpmore1]

what kind of scale do you use to weigh them? All I have is a standard dial scale...I'm thinking that won't cut it.

 

[casportpony]

I use a cheap digital kitchen scale that I got at Target. If you can't afford to get one, you could take her to the post office and use theirs!

-Kathy

 

[mejumpmore1]

That might be interesting! LOL I would love to see the looks I got from other postal customers when they see me pull a chicken out and set her on the scale.