Black fungus looking spots on Rhode Island Red

[Pam Rawlins]

Help!  My Rhode Island Red has developed black spots on her comb, her wattle and her ear that look like a fungus of some sort.  I have looked and looked on-line to see if there is another description of what this is, and don't see anything - just a white fungus.  Any ideas?  Her behavior seems fine, but I don't want to just let this go, and have it make her really sick, or kill her.

 

[Suze Scott]

I would guess that it was a bad batch of vaccine or vaccination. I've never vaccinated my flock; I do spray the coops for mosquitoes when I feel they are a problem, or call the county about monitoring via mosquito traps.

The listerine (the original nasty tasting stuff, not the milder ones) also has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, but what I felt was most helpful is that it helped dry up and allow removal of the mucous build-up that can block eating and breathing.

Yes, spreading the virus via mechanical means needs to be a concern as the virus can remain active for many months. ALWAYS treat ill birds last, and then shower, wash hair and launder clothes. Use a disinfecting foot wash for the soles of shoes.

[Suze Scott]

Last year a friend vaccinated for pox, and nearly his entire flock contracted the disease shortly thereafter (almost certainly from the vaccine). I went through a bout of pox several years ago and lost none. Thankfully only a couple developed wet pox, and I contribute their survival to the listerine swabbing of their throats. A neighbor was not so lucky and lost a couple of her much smaller flock.

Once a chicken has had pox, it is unlikely to ever get it again.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/204801.htm and http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/content/view/20/37/ have lots of good information about pox.

[Suze Scott]

Clear out any standing water, or add Mosquito Dunks (available at Home Depot, Lowes and similar), which prevent mosquito larvae from maturing.

Spray for mosquitos daily. Any sort of mosquito repellant will help. Make sure you do not have mite or lice problems as they will also spread pox. Separate birds who are ill from those who are not. Iodine, blukote, neosporin, listerine, camphofenique, gentian violet, basically any antiviral/antifungal/antibiotic put on the lesions will help clear them. If they get into the mouth, swab twice a day with listerine, removing as much of the buildup as possible. I've also heard of using blue kote to swab the throat. Some recommend giving a prophyllactic antibiotic dose to prevent secondary bacterial infection; others do not like using antibiotics prophylactically. I strongly suggest an antibiotic for any birds with wet pox.

If the pox virus infects the mucus membranes, you have "wet" pox, and it can be fatal. Dry pox is not.

The pox scabs that fall off the birds remain infective for many months, so you need to clean and disinfect thoroughly after pox is in your coop or pen.

Fowl pox is completely unrelated to chicken pox.

Depending on the number of mosquitoes you have, consider calling the county to have them place a mosquito trap to test the number and types of mosquitos. I heard on the news this morning that there are far more West Nile cases this year than last. (FWIW, chickens are immune to West Nile, although they will develop antibodies to the virus.) Mosquitoes also spread a number of other illnesses.

[Pam Rawlins]

Thanks for all this great information - she seems to have a very mild case, they are going away already, and it hasn't affected her behavior or anything. I have separated her from the rest of the chickens (I only have 5), but that is probably too late. I will stop up at Western Ranchman and see about the vaccination -

I agree with Chris... I would be heartbroken to lose any of my "ladies"!

[Suze Scott]

I think most of us would be.

[Suzie O'Connor]

take a picture of it areas I would like to see exactly what it looks like.

[Pam Rawlins]

Yep, they look like a fungus, plus she is my "top hen" - if anyone is ever pecking, she is doing it. I think I might have found it... avian pox... apparently caused by mosquitos. Looks like some iodine and time should do the trick. Really awful looking stuff! This picture looks just like it.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-diseases-AvianPox.html

Thanks so much for your reply! If you have any treatment ideas, please let me know!

[Jeanette]

eeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwww