Fowlpox?

[Chicken Chaser]

Howdy,

How do you know if your chicken has Fowlpox?
And if so, how do you care for it?

~Chicken Chaser

 

[chrismahon]

Only reference to Fowl Pox I have is in an American book called Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens. Causes scabby skin, fever, loss of appetite. Spread by blood sucking insects and fighting or injuries. Needs an anti-virus vaccination for whole flock. Then annual boosters.

Don't think we have it over here. I can't find any symptoms that match it exactly -none that refer to a high temperature anyway. The viral diseases we get are usually fatal without early vaccination. Newcastle disease and Avian Flu result in a poultry export ban for the whole Country.

 

[Chicken Chaser]

Howdy,

My cock does have fowlpox. But he is seven
months old. I don't think I can't vaccinate
him now, so what should I do?
He has a two hens that are vaccinated,
can I still keep them with him? :?

~Chicken Chaser

 

[chrismahon]

Will he live CC? If he has fowlpox he should die. BUT and it's a big BUT, over here we have sevral viruses that are immunised against by infecting the hosts with the mildest strain within the group. The virus is added to the drinking water (ILT, IB, Mareks). If your hens have been immunised they will be carriers. A virus can mutate in transmission but it is possible, if what I said is correct in your case, that your cockerel has simply caught the immunisation strain of the virus 'Fowl Pox'. He will be ill for a few days but should recover. Just watch out for secondary bacterial infections.

Fingers crossed and good luck CC.

 

[Chicken Chaser]

Howdy,

I have been giving him Tetracycline. I've
also been putting listerine on the fowlpox
spots. Are there any other cures for fowlpox?

~Chicken Chaser

 

[chrismahon]

None specified in this book CC. As I said this isn't a poultry disease we get in the UK. Generally we make sure they have a good diet with vitamin suppliments, even if it means force feeding.

 

[Chicken Chaser]

Howdy,

For the past few days I've noticed his crop is usually
empty, should I start force feeding? If so, what do I
feed him? Should I make mash out of chick feed?

~Chicken Chaser

 

[chrismahon]

Yes, force feed immediately CC. We make a mash fron rearers pellets, the stuff you feed from 8 weeks to 6 months or permanently if its a cockerel. Chick feed would be OK for first day but it is very high in protein. Soak in water to make a thin paste, draw into a big syringe and direct in small squirts to the back of the throat giving him time to swallow. This will give him the strength to fight the virus.

 

[Chicken Chaser]

Howdy,

He seems to doing a little better.
Thanks for y'all's help.

~Chicken Chaser

 

[chrismahon]

Very pleased to hear that CC. Let's hope the little chap continues to improve.

 

[Marigold]

How do you know for certain that he has fowlpox? It does sound very unlikely. Is this an avian vet's diagnosis? Not sure where you got the Tetracycline from, and who advised you to use Listerine on the scabby spots, this is pretty strong stuff and i would be loth to use it on birds without a vet's advice. Force feeding a chicken seems to me to be an extreme way of treating a sick bird, unless your vet has advised this and showed you how to do it.
If you think he has indeed got fowl pox, and you have not seen a vet, then it would be best either to do so or to cull the bird. Please remember that opinions given on here are not intended to replace the advice of a qualified vet,as it says in red at the top of the page!

 

[podstable]

I was under the impression that Fowl Pox does still occur here in UK , that it is not primarily a fatal disease (death usually being due to secondary bacterial infection )and that no true/specific vaccine was available 11 ??? Where is that Chicken Vet when you need him! I agree Marigold--if extra nutrition is required/advised by Vet that tube feeding must be more humane than force feeding ??----- Marigold--your last sentance is SO important.Ros

 

[chrismahon]

I've just discovered that Fowl Pox is in the UK and an outbreak in the Midlands as well! Write-up is on www.poultrykeeper.com. Thought Basil had it as he has a nasty sore at the junction of his top and bottom beak, just like the photo. But it is actually a cut that he keepes opening after fighting through the wire with Frankie.

I consider 'force feeding' to be either by tube straight into the crop, or by syringe into the back of the throat giving the bird time to swallow -as defined and advised by my vet. He gave me the tube and syringe as well, after demonstrating on Issy, who wasn't the slightest bit bothered surprisingly. Why is that so outragious?

 

[Marigold]

That's a very useful and informative link, Chris, thanks for that. Obviously fowl pox is another of those nasties we all have to be alert at looking out for. I notice the article recommends consulting a vet for diagnosis and treatment, which was exactly the point I was trying to express. Of course force-feeding is not outragious if a vet considers it necessary and has shown you how to do it, but I don't think we should be encouraging people to try this on undiagnosed birds that we haven't seen ourselves and which haven't been seen by a vet, any more than we should condone people giving antibiotics or other strong medications to birds unless vitally necessary and properly prescribed. Fowl Pox is an infectious disease which can spread throughout the flock and the spores can last a long time, so personally, if it was ever diagnosed in one of my birds, I would have no hesitation in culling immediately rather than attempting treatment, in the interests of the rest of the flock as well as future birds I might keep.

 

[chrismahon]

I appreciate your points there Marigold and lets hope none of us get a case of Fowl Pox. Fortunately Chicken Chaser's hens were already vaccinated against it, but his new cockerel wasn't. So in his case treatment, of any kind, was worth a long shot. Interesting to see how he got on?