YO GEORGIANS! :)

[katiedarling]

I've had both dry and wet pox in my flock. It is initially transmitted by mosquitos, but once your chickens have it it is easily spread between chickens.

Betadine is key for treating both -

For dry pox, dab it on the dry pox scabs daily to slow spread and dry up the scabs. As the scabs dry/heal, if I'm are able to pull the scabs off (make sure the wound is healed first!) I do, and throw them away. You don't want other chickens eating them.

For wet pox, look for a cheesy looking stuff around the corners of the beak, and inside the mouth and throat. They will probably be listless and acting like they don't feel well. Wet pox grows in their mouths VERY FAST and they will suffocate unless you swab it out, probably 2x per day (but check - your mileage may vary). I use q-tips dipped in warm water and betadine and sweep the goop out of their mouths. Get it all out. I will also use Vet RX on their nostrils, under their wings etc to help with breathing a couple times a day. For bad cases of wet pox I'll follow the VetRx directions and give them a solution of diluted VetRx and warm water with a dropper down their throats. Make sure the chicken is eating/drinking as well.

I've done well with treating both types of pox (knock on wood) and have stopped the spread by treating affected chickens immediately.

hope this helps

It does help. Thank you! I was actually going to put some Vet Rx on their combs and see if it helped. I will instead go and get betadine. The only bird that shows anything that looks remotely "cheese" like is Rose. It's two spots on underside of beak where wattles connect, not inside the mouth at all. It's not gooey or gunky, it's thick hard/dry and sort of scab or callous like. She's still growing her wattles in and it looks like one is growing faster than the other. Sophia, her comb is paler than the others and wattles are slower development, no black spots at all. But, she's also the smallest and I think at the bottom of the order. I assume she's just growing slower due to not getting to the feeder or the treats until last.

edited to add: I have also been doing some reading on Oxine and I'm seriously considering using it. Even if this isn't pox, it looks like a great product to have on hand for a million different things. I figure, better safe than sorry.

 

[katiedarling]

@katsdar Thank you for that link. The spots don't actually look like those pox spots in that particular photo. They are in fact "marker like". Perfect way to describe what I am seeing. The white definitely looks ashy.

My husband bought us tickets to see one of our favorite bands play at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville at the end of this month. If I have to stay home and monitor the birds to make sure it doesn't go the way of what the article describes then I'll be able to intervene properly. That article had much more clear and precise info and instructions, much like what @pdx2phx was explaining, too.

Love the folks in this thread. Precisely why I always defer to y'all for clarification and second opinions on what I find with Google.

 

[PapaChaz]

if you have the means to separate the roosters, do so and see if she'll go interact with the other hens with the boys gone....

A few weeks back, while they were spending their days on the porch, I thought I noticed their combs looking like somebody dusted em with a bit of powder. Didn't think much of it. A few days ago, I started noticing tiny black spots showing up on a couple of the birds' combs, down close to the beak/head. Not 100% sure that it's pox but the progression is what has me on alert. They are not looking really bad, so far the spots seem pretty small. So, it could be from pecking.
Yesterday, Stanley's comb had slightly larger areas of white spreading, he also has a couple of small black spots. This morning I noticed the tips of his comb look like they're turning blackish, too. As far as behavior, they're all acting normal, other than definitely panting from it being so hot. No lethargy or listlessness. No signs of lesions or scabbing inside their mouths as far as I can tell. I took some photos the other day of the spots. I am thinking about taking more since things look slightly worse. From what I am seeing of pox in the research, what I have going on here is really mild in comparison. Hoping it's just pecking, or if it is pox, just not a severe case of it.



Stanley is a D-bag right now for being a biter. I know he's being protective of his ladies, but I'm not cool with a bird of his size and strength biting me. As far as his job of protecting them, he's a stellar rooster. He immediately tries to get between me & one of the girls when it's time to round them up in the morning. Obviously placing himself in harm's way to protect them. I let them run loose out of their enclosed run for a bit everyday. I assume he is starting to try and establish his place as head roo, so he & I are just vying for top billing. I am determined to break him and make sure he knows I rule with an iron fist. In a nutshell, he stole my heart in the beginning and he just broke it. I joked to my husband the other day that "Stanley just broke up with me".

Dry Pox is exactly as it sounds. Chicken pox for chickens. It's worse if it gets into their mouths/sinuses. Then it's Wet Pox and it can be fatal. It will cause them to either die of starvation or suffocation.

awwww, I'm sorry. Stanley dumped you fer a bunch of hens...............

you are correct though, you need to establish yourself as head of the whole flock, including him. He'll get it. He won't like it, but he'll get it

 

[katiedarling]

awwww, I'm sorry. Stanley dumped you fer a bunch of hens...............

you are correct though, you need to establish yourself as head of the whole flock, including him. He'll get it. He won't like it, but he'll get it

Oh yeah. He hates it. I can feel it that he's just plotting payback as soon as I let my guard down. Every time I have to open that back door to the coop and they're in there, he gets right in my face and starts acting like he's a little tough guy. Trying to circle around as if I'm not paying attention to his every move. As soon as I look his way, he feigns interest in the grit container or the floor, or whatever else. Trying to look like he ain't up to no good. I have to admit it is a little amusing to watch him act like he's Mr. Badass. He ain't foolin nobody! LOL He may be getting spurs in, but I have guns. and a crockpot. (*jk. I couldn't ever)

Something else I have witnessed from him is biting the crap out of one of the hens, whenever they come to greet me at that door. Every once in a while, Rose or Sophia will come to me when Icheck on them just before they roost for the night and I'll take am out and sit with them for a bit. When I put them back in the coop, he sneak attacks and bites the crap out of them. Even when I've just had HIM out for a few minutes. The other day he got a hold of Sophia and wouldn't let go of her. I had to knock him off and he had a mouth full of her feathers. Scared the crap out of her. I know roos are supposed to be somewhat dominant and aggressive but that seemed more malicious than anything.

 

[Flowerbh]

Just came back from selling all my eggs at the farmers market. Met a lady who has turkey chicks. Anyone interested? I think she said they were Royal Palms?

 

[CliffB]

OMG i wanted 1 royal palm and 1 bourbon red. Royal palms are my most favoritist.

On a side note. I hate chickens. I gave away 2 of my roosters right after my brahma laid her first egg. She never laid another egg after that one. I gave away my rooster and 2 hens last week to make room for some new birds. Haven't gotten an egg since from my 2 regular layers. This mess drives me nuts.

 

[PapaChaz]

OMG i wanted 1 royal palm and 1 bourbon red. Royal palms are my most favoritist.

On a side note. I hate chickens. I gave away 2 of my roosters right after my brahma laid her first egg. She never laid another egg after that one. I gave away my rooster and 2 hens last week to make room for some new birds. Haven't gotten an egg since from my 2 regular layers. This mess drives me nuts.

did you ever see the movie Rainman?

chickens are very similar, you mess with what's normal routine, you pay for it big time..............

 

[CliffB]

Yea they are making me angry.

 

[eqserman]

Thanks Papa Chaz. Well was able to integrate her back with the others, I took both my EE roosters as I believe they are responsible and have them locked up in the coop. Initially she seemed scared to death and my older hen gave her a few pecks, but now seems like all is good. Not sure what will happen when I let the EE's out of the coop ( presently limited space to keep them segregated) She still seems skittish and although I am going to take a hit, Tuesday or Wednesday I MAY be able to rehome the two roos's , hope can make it that long. Thanks to all for the input and help will see what happens in @ hour or so.

 

[Flowerbh]

Yea they are making me angry.

Bring me your cute NNs and I'll arrange for you to get the turkeys!