Fowl Pox

fowl-pox Fowl Pox is a viral disease that is commonly spread by biting insects especially mosquitoes. It can also be transmitted to another chicken when the chicken inhales the fowl pox virus. There are 2 forms of the disease. The first form is called the dry type, this is what is present in the photo. The second form is the wet type or diphtheritic, the pox lesions can be seen with in the oral cavity until the trachea. The second form commonly accompanied with respiratory signs. Being a viral disease, there is no recommended treatment. The best way to prevent this disease is thru vaccination. In gamebirds, this is usually given on the 14th day of age and repeated when they are about 2 months old. The vaccine is delivered using a pricker which is dipped into the vaccine. The pricker is then inserted into the wing web. A good thing about the fowl pox vaccine is that you can check if it is effective. Check the pricked wing web 7 to 10 days after and see if the pricked area became swollen or for the presence of scabs. This is an indication of a positive take. If there seems to be no reaction, you should repeat vaccination.
Some reasons for failure are wrong storage of vaccines or vaccine was delivered into the feathers and not the skin of the wing web. To prevent this, you can remove the feathers in the underside of the wing web before applying the vaccine. There is a new fowl pox + ILT vaccine branded as Vectormune. This vaccine prevents fowl pox and ILT.