Remedies: How to Treat Fowl Pox in Chickens Naturally Donna Larson, January 9, 2024January 9, 2024 You’ve chosen the beautiful hens, you’re collecting the fresh eggs, and you’re experiencing all the joy that you knew chicken keeping would bring. Then you learn that you have sick chickens, now what? Now, we’re going to teach you how to treat fowl pox in chickens naturally. Jump Down for How to Treat Fowl Pox in Chickens Naturally. What is Fowl Pox Fowl pox, not to be confused with the chicken pox variant that humans contract, is a contagious viral infection in chicken populations. Being one of the most common chicken diseases, you’re likely to see it run through your flock at some point. Fowl Pox can be categorized in two ways: 1. Dry Pox This form appears as wart-like lesions on unfeathered skin areas, such as the comb, wattles, legs, and around the eyes. These lesions can cause discomfort, but they usually heal without serious complications over several weeks. 2. Wet Pox Wet Fowl Pox affects the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts. It causes lesions in the mouth, throat, and sometimes the upper respiratory system, leading to difficulty in breathing, eating, and death due to suffocation or starvation in the most severe cases. Fowl Pox Virus Clinical Symptoms Dry Pox Symptoms Raised, wart-like lesions on unfeathered skin areas, such as the comb, wattles, legs, around the eyes, and sometimes on the feet. Yellowish-white nodules or bumps that may appear scabby or crusty. Lesions might cause discomfort or itching, leading to affected birds scratching or pecking at the lesions. In severe cases, lesions may become secondarily infected. Wet Pox Symptoms: Sores in the mouth, throat, and upper respiratory tract. Yellowish plaques or membranes on the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, or airways. Difficulty breathing / respiratory distress Difficulty eating or drinking due to obstruction caused by the lesions. Loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy. In severe cases, birds may have difficulty breathing and can suffocate or die due to starvation. Mortality Rate Not all infected birds exhibit severe symptoms, and most mild cases will recover without intervention. However, severe cases of fowlpox can be fatal, especially if the respiratory system is significantly affected. According to the Mississippi State University, the mortality rate of fowl pox in chickens is somewhere between 1 and 5%. The wet pox variants seem to be more severe and bring a higher death rate, closer to the 5%. Chicks, young birds, or birds with compromised immune systems are generally more susceptible to severe forms of fowlpox and might have higher mortality rates than healthy adult birds. Causes and Transmission The virus spreads through direct contact with infected birds, contaminated objects, or via biting insects such as mosquitoes. Insects can act as mechanical vectors, transmitting the virus from one bird to another. Furthermore, wild birds can bring the pox or other viral diseases to your homestead, infecting your birds. Once a bird in your flock is infected, the entire flock is likely to contract the disease as it’s highly contagious. Disinfect water and feed sources for your backyard chickens, and complete a thorough cleaning of their coop. If you have an infected chicken exhibiting symptoms of fowlpox, it’s essential to isolate the affected bird and maintain strict hygiene practices. Give the sick individual it’s own food and water access, and keep it from roaming the chicken yard with your other flock members. Should you have a fast moving outbreaking, you always have the option to seek veterinary advice for medical treatment and management. A vet is likely to prescribe antibiotics. Prevention The first measure of prevention is vaccination. The fowl pox vaccine is available through a licensed veterinarian. The vaccine is given at 12-16 weeks old, and it lasts for about 34 weeks. You’d have to re-vaccinate your entire flock every 34 weeks to ensure they don’t contract the virus. Fowl pox and other respiratory diseases are contagious. Quarantine any new chickens that you bring to your homestead for 30 days to be sure they aren’t bringing illness that will spread to your flock. Since the fowl pox virus is most commonly transmitted through mosquito bites, do what you can to reduce the mosquito population around your homestead. Dump containers of standing water, removing nearby mosquito breeding grounds. Remove any dead birds that you might find immediately. How To Treat Fowl Pox in Chickens Naturally at Home According to the University of Florida, IFAS Extension, “There is no treatment for fowl pox.” However, there are several things that you can do to support your birds’ immune systems so that they can quickly recover, minimizing impact of the disease. Maintain good nutrition, offer clean water, and ensure a stress-free environment for the affected birds. Adequate nutrition helps boost their immune system and aids in recovery. Try these home remedies to Treat Fowl Pox in Chickens Naturally: feed them aloe vera in the feed feed them a chicken probiotic found at most feed stores put some oregano essential oil to their drinking water add raw apple cider vinegar to their water add raw, crushed garlic to their feed and water dust their coop space with agricultural lime to limit the spreading of the disease to the rest of the flock. My favorite natural treatment is to combine a couple cloves of crushed garlic, 20 drops of oregano essential oil, and 1/4 cup of raw apple cider vinegar to a 2 gallon waterer. Additionally, feeding the chickens fresh oregano sprigs from the garden seems to help them fight infection faster. For Dry Pox: Clean any infected spots with a diluted iodine solution or hydrogen peroxide. Colloidal silver is a natural way to prevent secondary infections of any lesions or sores. Be sure to keep their coop dry. You can make a balm of sulfur powder and coconut oil to apply to the most severe sores, helping them heal faster. A less natural, but gentle treatment is to use triple antibiotic ointment, or Neosporin, on the scabs and sores to help them heal. This also helps to prevent further bacterial infection. Birds might peck at the lesions, causing further injury or secondary infections. To prevent this, consider using protective collars or separating affected birds to minimize pecking. Can fowl pox go away without treatment? Yes, most often, fowl pox will pass through a flock without severe symptoms or death occurring. Most birds recover on their own with good nutrition and clean water. In my experience, quail seem to have a particularly higher mortality rate with fowl pox than chickens. The oregano essential oil, crushed raw, and raw apple cider vinegar trio added to their drinking water has worked wonderfully at stopping the disease for me in the past. How long does fowl pox last? Fowl pox can last in an individual bird for about a month in most birds, with different stages of the illness. Incubation period: After exposure to the virus, there is an incubation period before symptoms appear. This period typically ranges from 4 to 10 days but can be longer in some cases. Development of lesions: In the dry form of fowlpox, wart-like sores begin to appear on unfeathered areas of the skin, such as the comb, wattles, legs, and around the eyes. These lesions gradually enlarge, scab over, and eventually heal over a period of a few weeks. Resolution of symptoms: The lesions will eventually dry up and fall off, and the affected bird will start to recover. In mild cases, recovery may take a few weeks, while more severe cases with lesions in the respiratory or digestive tracts may take longer to resolve. Recovery: Once the lesions have healed, and the virus runs its course, the bird typically regains its health. However, in severe cases, complications such as secondary infections or respiratory issues might prolong recovery or lead to mortality. It can take several months for the virus to run through a large flock if the birds are contracting the disease at staggered times. Possible Long Term Effects Some severe cases of wet fowl pox may cause long lasting problems in birds. The digestive tract can become scarred causing persistent diarrhea which leads to weight loss. Severe sinus infection from wet pox can cause blindness in some birds. Is Fowl Pox Painful for Chickens? The pain associated with fowl pox lesions might prompt affected birds to scratch or peck at the affected areas, potentially causing further injury, bleeding, or increasing the risk of secondary infections. In severe cases or if the sores become infected, it can lead to more significant discomfort or pain for the chickens. Can other birds on my homestead contract fowl pox? Yes, turkeys, ducks, quails, and various other species of birds can contract avian pox, including fowl pox, caused by the avian poxvirus. While chickens are commonly affected by this viral disease, it can affect a broad range of avian species. Is Egg Production Affected? Yes, egg production can be affected in chickens that have contracted fowl pox. When chickens are infected with the avian poxvirus, especially if they have the wet form of the disease affecting their respiratory system, it can cause a range of health issues that may impact their overall well-being, including their egg-laying capacity. Chickens affected by severe respiratory symptoms due to fowl pox might experience: Reduced feed intake: Difficulty in breathing or eating due to lesions in the mouth or respiratory tract can lead to a decreased appetite, resulting in reduced nutrient intake. This can, in turn, affect egg production. Stress and decreased energy: Fighting off the virus and dealing with the discomfort caused by lesions can stress the bird’s immune system and lead to a drop in energy levels. This can further impact egg production. Secondary complications: Severe cases of fowlpox can cause secondary bacterial infections or other health issues, which might require additional energy and resources from the chicken’s body to fight off, diverting resources away from egg production. However, not all chickens infected with fowl pox will experience a significant decrease in egg production. The impact on egg-laying capacity can vary depending on the severity of the infection, the form of the disease (wet or dry), the overall health of the bird, and whether proper care and treatment are provided. Is it Safe to Consume Eggs From Infected Chickens? Yes, it is generally safe to consume eggs from chickens that have recovered from fowlpox. The virus that causes fowl pox primarily affects the skin and respiratory system of poultry. It does not directly affect the reproductive organs or the egg itself. Eggs laid by chickens recovering from fowlpox are safe for human consumption, provided that the eggs are properly handled, cleaned, and cooked thoroughly before consumption, as is recommended for all eggs. Be sure to have enough chicken nest boxes to keep stress to a minimum. Furthermore, a bird with fowl pox may be safely eaten after being properly cooked. Personally, I’d not consume any animal that was sick. Fowl Pox is Not Chicken Pox Although fowl pox is also known as chicken pox or avian pox, it is not the same strain that might affect humans. Handling your sick bird will not cause you to become sick with the virus. Conclusion on How to Treat Fowl Pox in Chickens Naturally You can do all the right things to provide excellent care of your chickens or other homestead birds, and they can still contract fowl pox. That’s both good to know but scary too. I hope that we’ve eased your mind at how well they usually bounce back from such a disease. If you keep a flock of birds for long enough, they’ll probably contract the virus at some point, but you can support their immune systems by learning how to treat fowl pox in chickens naturally. Happy Chicken Keeping! Donna at Hazel Belle Farm Donna and her family have been homesteading for most of their 20+ years together in some shape or fashion. She currently lives on their 20 acre farm where they grow as much food as possible. What started as a just a few laying hens, has grown into large gardens, pastured poultry, pork, and lamb. They are continuously evolving their small farm to not suit their family’s needs, but also providing to their local community. Donna’s favorite part of the family farm is her self-built micro-dairy, where she gets to love on dairy cows while serving her local community. Milking, cheesemaking, and processing dairy have become the soul of their homestead and the center of their farm. Sources: edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VM021 extension.msstate.edu/publications/fowl-pox-backyard-flocks#:~:text=Mortality is usually low (1,unfeathered parts of the body. Chickens Homesteading