Who has experience with a fowl pox outbreak?

[ShaggysGirl]

I'm so book marking this post... just in case we ever have to deal with this.

I wanted to add be sure to use the neosporin without pain reliever in it

Best of luck keep us posted on how they are doing.

 

[happychickmom]

Well, folks, it looks like a couple of chickens are getting worse. I have one rooster who can hardly walk (very stiffly), and he was holding his mouth open. I don't see any lesions on him, but he is mostly just laying around. A couple of the other roosters pecked at him a couple of times, but it was near dusk and they were all getting ready to roost. My husband wasn't coming home until late, and I had no place to put the roo. (There is an old wood brooder box which needs to have some wire replaced and a door-hole closed in, but I really need DH's help on that.) Anyway, since it was late, I figured the other chickens would go to sleep and I can check on the roo in the morning. If he survives the night and doesn't look any better, we may have to cull him to prevent any more suffering.

The other concern is my little pullet, Sasha. One of her eyes is looking infected. I did put antibiotic ointment on the area. She is eating and drinking, running around like normal. She just looks miserable because she has to turn her head around to see out of her good left eye. Sasha is very special to us, as she had curled toes on both feet when she hatched, and my daughter and I made her little boots thanks to info. on BYC. We were extra happy when she turned out to be a pullet. She has been doing so well, and it breaks my heart to see her this way. The other chickens were not bothering her, and I will keep checking on that. I may have to fix that brooder up for her. Because of my pet birds, I do not want to bring the infected chickens in the house.

I will post more tomorrow after I see how all the chickens are doing.

Thanks again, everyone. Your information and support is very helpful and comforting.

 

[RendonRoo]

Your not alone. One of my roosters started showing this a few weeks ago. I thought he just got his comb dirty but some others have been getting it also. I just figured out today what it actually was but i also noticed that the roo had a perfectly red and healthy comb. Good luck with yours.

 

[RedStarDaddy]

Sounds like your rooster is developing wet pox. Sonoran Silkies had some advice for me on how to treat wet pox if my birds developed it. The link to that advice is here.

RSD

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Sorry I only got this with the last post.

Yes, please open their beaks - look for cheesy exudate. Also remember that fowl pox (even asymptomatic) will cause a decreased immune function leaving the bird more susceptible to other illnesses, particularly respiratory.

On the bird with an infection, I would give her Penicillin G procaine injections for 4 days IM to combat the secondary skin-type infection.

On the other birds, you must open their beaks. If the roof of their beak is not pink and healthy looking, if it has any yellow, you must physically peel off the yellow. The illness would still be viral. You will have to completely examine them (including listening for breathing sounds) and let us know what you find from there.

 

[happychickmom]

Well today the above-mentioned rooster and pullet seem to be doing ok. The rooster was actually up and around a lot, eating and drinking. He's not holding his mouth open anymore, although he's still walking a little stiff-legged.

Sasha's eye still looks about the same, and she was mighty upset when my daughter and I applied the antibiotic ointment today. She and the roo enjoyed some yogurt and cornbread that I gave the chickens today. So their appetites appear to be ok at this time. I observed the chickens a few times for long periods, and I did not see anybody pick on either one.

I had read that the dry pox can cause them to be lethargic in some cases, so maybe that's all it is with the roo. I have not checked inside their mouths yet.

I will have to wait out the weekend for them before considering penicillin or anything like that. My prayers certainly extend to my little feathered friends.

I will be gone all day tomorrow and will update after that if there are any significant changes, good or bad.

Thanks, friends.