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Over the past week a young rooster developed large warts on his comb and around his beak in the past day these warts have rapidly grown and have covered his eyes over night he cannot see this morning. Can this be treated and could it spread to other hens in his cage. The rooster is about 5 months old and is classes as a curly chook.
Optional Information: Type of Animal: Rooster Gender: Male Age: 5 months Name of Bird: Curly Already Tried: Nothing as it was not really noticeable before the weekend
Hello!Thanks for using JustAnswer.com, I'm Dr. Dan and I'll try to help you.This isn't the greatest picture but if you look at the rooster in this picture is this similar to what you are seeing on your bird? http://www.poultrymatters.com/photopost/data/500/rooster010Small.jpgDr. Dan
I Am getting a message. "sorry but you are not permitted to use the search system".
Very strange, sorry for the problem. I am almost certain you are dealing with fowl pox virus. This will cause multiple raised sometimes crusty sores that look like warts as you describe and fowl pox often targets the comb and face. This is incredibly contagious to all chickens so your hens can be affected. If any of your birds become affected this will go away on their own eventually. all you need to do is make sure they can keep eating and drinking and the virus in most cases will run it's course. Nursing care is the key here and isolating any birds who are affected so hopefully it will not spread too far. Dr. Dan
Is there a treatment that I can use to prevent further spread and will the bird recover his sight
Some people will add lysine in their food to try to slow the virus from replicating but no dose is agreed upon and most avian vet including myself don't feel that it works at all. It however will not hurt them. Other than that no there is no treatment to stop the spread. Most of the time the virus does not affect the eyes themselves so as soon as the wart-like crusts go away the vision should return. However there are sporadic cases of blindness being permanent so it is not a promise that vision will return. Dr. Dan
Is there a way of brushing away the warts from the eyes so that he can see? Can it be infectious to humans?
It is not infectious to humans only other poultry and primarily only chickens. You can brush away the warts but if they don't move away EASILY then stop as they bleed easily and the bleeding can be very difficult to stop so be very careful. A vet can freeze them or surgically remove them but short of that it's best to leave them alone. Dr. Dan
Experience: 8 years of pet, wildlife, and zoo avian experience