Fowlpox is a highly contagious disease among birds and is characterized by scab like lesions on the unfeathered parts of the birds body. It is most often contracted from mosquitos. Humans cannot contract most forms of Fowl Pox but there have been a few reported cases of humans contracting it, but none have been reported in the United States. Scroll down to see more about signs, symptoms, treatments, and answers to most often asked questions about fowl pox.
Photo courtesy of Phillip Schneidenbach on Unsplash.
Fowl pox is highly contagious and it is almost impossible to prevent the spread of fowlpox throughout your flock once it has been contracted. If you catch it early enough you may be able to separate the infected birds and move the coop if possible. Sanitise and bleach everything the infected bird had contact with. Bathe all other birds in your flock. Make sure you are not spreading the disease. You can prevent spreading the disease to your other flocks or birds by using bio hazard methods, washing and sanitizing your hands, wearing gloves, aprons, and face mask, changing clothing, using plastic shoe covers while treating or handling infected birds. Change clothing, shoe coverings before entering a different coop if you have more than one.
How fowl pox is contracted by chickens:
Fowl pox is contracted by direct contact between infected and susceptible birds which have most likely contracted it from mosquitos who have been feeding on birds which have fowlpox and pass the virus to other birds. Not all birds are susceptible to fowl pox if preventative treatments have been administered.
Virus containing scabs can be sloughed from affected birds and serve as a source of infection by entering the bloodstream through the eye, skin wounds, or respiratory tract.
Fowl Pox Prevention Tips:
Chickens and turkey's should be vaccinated for fowl pox.
Fowl pox can be prevented by having your chickens vaccinated at 12-16 weeks of age.
Wing web vaccination for chickens
Thigh-stick for turkeys older than 8 weeks
Note: Vaccination should not be done unless the disease is already been noticed or diagnosed.
Remove all birds from the hen house and coops where infected birds have been.
Clean all areas occupied by infected birds by removing all bedding and use an antibacterial disinfectant soap to clean everything including nesting boxes, walls and floor.
Kill any possible mosquito's.
You may wish to close the hen house off and treat it with bug bombs.
Make sure no chickens are in the hen house during or for five hours after you bomb it.
Be sure to use a large fan blowing toward the outdoors to remove the toxic bug bomb fumes for at least 2 hours prior to allowing the hens back in.
This will get rid of any live mosquito's that may be hiding in the hen house but will do little to keep larvae from hatching.
Make sure there is no stale standing water anywhere on the property. Mosquito's lay their larvae in stale water.
Make a Permethrin dip or spray and apply to birds, this will make them less appealing to mosquitoes.
Put citronella plants all around and in your chicken coop (mosquitoes hate citronella).
Use mosquito dunks in pools, ponds, creeks, and any other standing water that cannot be removed.
Use a water filter pump to keep water clean and moving in pools and ponds.
Keep grassy areas mowed and clear of clutter that could hold rain water.
Toads and frogs eat mosquitoes.
Symptoms of Fowl Pox:
There are many types of fowlpox but only two basic forms-wet and dry. The Symptoms are different for each type. (See link below). Fowl Pox affects chickens, turkeys and other fowl. Fowl pox (dry form) forms small pustules on the combs or wattles, or maybe on around the mouth and face. Pustules can also occur on the legs. There is a wet form that can occur inside the mouth. The dry form pustules can be brownish or scabs.
Treatment for Fowl Pox
There are no known treatments for Fowl Pox. If symptoms of Fowl Pox are present you should separate the bird from the flock, and vaccinate all of your birds right away. Culling (separating or euthanizing) the infected bird may prevent the spread of the disease into your whole flock but most likely by the time you see the symptoms, your entire flock is at risk and needs to be vaccinated and relocated to fresh ground, clean and sanitize the coop and accessories. Make sure your bird actually has fowl pox before you decide to vaccinate or cull it. Contact your local poultry or livestock veterinarian as soon as possible.
How fowl pox is contracted by chickens:
Fowl pox is contracted by direct contact between infected and susceptible birds which have most likely contracted it from mosquitos who have been feeding on birds which have fowlpox and pass the virus to other birds. Not all birds are susceptible to fowl pox if preventative treatments have been administered.
Virus containing scabs can be sloughed from affected birds and serve as a source of infection by entering the bloodstream through the eye, skin wounds, or respiratory tract.
- Fowl pox is contracted by direct contact between infected and susceptible birds. If wild birds have access to your chickens food and water there is a good chance your birds could get Fowl pox or Avian pox
- Virus containing scabs can be sloughed from affected birds and serve as a source of infection."Can enter the blood stream through the eye, skin wounds, or respiratory tract.
- Mosquito's (the main way birds contract it) who are infected from feeding on birds which have fowl pox." Treating birds with Permethrin 10% can help prevent mosquitoes from infecting your chickens. Remove any standing water. Use mosquito dunks in ponds.
Fowl Pox Prevention Tips:
Chickens and turkey's should be vaccinated for fowl pox.
Fowl pox can be prevented by having your chickens vaccinated at 12-16 weeks of age.
Wing web vaccination for chickens
Thigh-stick for turkeys older than 8 weeks
Note: Vaccination should not be done unless the disease is already been noticed or diagnosed.
Remove all birds from the hen house and coops where infected birds have been.
Clean all areas occupied by infected birds by removing all bedding and use an antibacterial disinfectant soap to clean everything including nesting boxes, walls and floor.
Kill any possible mosquito's.
You may wish to close the hen house off and treat it with bug bombs.
Make sure no chickens are in the hen house during or for five hours after you bomb it.
Be sure to use a large fan blowing toward the outdoors to remove the toxic bug bomb fumes for at least 2 hours prior to allowing the hens back in.
This will get rid of any live mosquito's that may be hiding in the hen house but will do little to keep larvae from hatching.
Make sure there is no stale standing water anywhere on the property. Mosquito's lay their larvae in stale water.
Make a Permethrin dip or spray and apply to birds, this will make them less appealing to mosquitoes.
Put citronella plants all around and in your chicken coop (mosquitoes hate citronella).
Use mosquito dunks in pools, ponds, creeks, and any other standing water that cannot be removed.
Use a water filter pump to keep water clean and moving in pools and ponds.
Keep grassy areas mowed and clear of clutter that could hold rain water.
Toads and frogs eat mosquitoes.
Symptoms of Fowl Pox:
There are many types of fowlpox but only two basic forms-wet and dry. The Symptoms are different for each type. (See link below). Fowl Pox affects chickens, turkeys and other fowl. Fowl pox (dry form) forms small pustules on the combs or wattles, or maybe on around the mouth and face. Pustules can also occur on the legs. There is a wet form that can occur inside the mouth. The dry form pustules can be brownish or scabs.
Treatment for Fowl Pox
There are no known treatments for Fowl Pox. If symptoms of Fowl Pox are present you should separate the bird from the flock, and vaccinate all of your birds right away. Culling (separating or euthanizing) the infected bird may prevent the spread of the disease into your whole flock but most likely by the time you see the symptoms, your entire flock is at risk and needs to be vaccinated and relocated to fresh ground, clean and sanitize the coop and accessories. Make sure your bird actually has fowl pox before you decide to vaccinate or cull it. Contact your local poultry or livestock veterinarian as soon as possible.
Most Often Asked Questions About Fowl Pox
Which breeds does it infect?
Fowl pox can infect most poultry, chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, psittacine, and ratites. All ages are susceptible.
Can it infect humans?
Yes. It is possible to vaccinate uninfected birds if you have caught the virus early enough. You will have to separate or cull infected birds, move the chicken coop and disinfect it with bleach or get a different coop. You will have to get new feed dishes, waterers, nest boxes. Anything that was used by the infected bird could be contaminated. Use Biosecurity methods to protect the rest of the flock (see link below).
How can I relieve my chicken or turkeys discomfort from fowl pox?
The most humane thing you can do for a bird with fowl pox is to cull it. If you have decided that you do not or cannot cull fowlpox infected birds there are a few ways you can help your birds. You can relieve some of the chickens discomfort by disinfecting the lesions by slowly peeling the scab off and pouring hydrogen peroxide on them, blot them with sterile gauze and soak in warm salt water. After soaking for 10-15 minutes (do not let the bird drink salt water) pat dry with sterile gauze and put a sterile pad and medical tape to secure it over the wound. Make sure you wear rubber gloves and sterilize everything with bleach that you used to clean the lesions and to soak the bird. Keep in mind that if the infected bird will die no matter what you do and it will suffer until death so culling may seem harsh but it is the most humane thing to do. Other birds in your flock may not have symptoms but may be carriers because this fowl pox is slow moving. The only way to find out for sure is to take them to a licensed poultry and livestock veterinarian and have them tested.
Fowl pox can infect most poultry, chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, psittacine, and ratites. All ages are susceptible.
Can it infect humans?
- No it cannot infect humans. "Fowl pox is not transmissible to humans. Most areas of Texas have wild bird populations that are infected. These infections easily spread from the wild into your flock from mosquitoes most times of the year. Vaccination for fowl pox is a good practice for show birds."
- Winter
- Early spring
- Very slow moving
Yes. It is possible to vaccinate uninfected birds if you have caught the virus early enough. You will have to separate or cull infected birds, move the chicken coop and disinfect it with bleach or get a different coop. You will have to get new feed dishes, waterers, nest boxes. Anything that was used by the infected bird could be contaminated. Use Biosecurity methods to protect the rest of the flock (see link below).
How can I relieve my chicken or turkeys discomfort from fowl pox?
The most humane thing you can do for a bird with fowl pox is to cull it. If you have decided that you do not or cannot cull fowlpox infected birds there are a few ways you can help your birds. You can relieve some of the chickens discomfort by disinfecting the lesions by slowly peeling the scab off and pouring hydrogen peroxide on them, blot them with sterile gauze and soak in warm salt water. After soaking for 10-15 minutes (do not let the bird drink salt water) pat dry with sterile gauze and put a sterile pad and medical tape to secure it over the wound. Make sure you wear rubber gloves and sterilize everything with bleach that you used to clean the lesions and to soak the bird. Keep in mind that if the infected bird will die no matter what you do and it will suffer until death so culling may seem harsh but it is the most humane thing to do. Other birds in your flock may not have symptoms but may be carriers because this fowl pox is slow moving. The only way to find out for sure is to take them to a licensed poultry and livestock veterinarian and have them tested.
References: Fowlpox in Chickens and Turkeys - Poultry - Veterinary Manual. (2018). Veterinary Manual. Retrieved 9 November 2018, from https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/fowlpox/fowlpox-in-chickens-and-turkeys
