Avian Pox in Dunnock?

dunnockchick · #1 (**permalink**) 06-08-2010, 09:17 AM

Hi there,

4 weeks ago, I found my cat trying to reach something in a log pile outside and found a baby dunnock there. It was partially unfeathered with no nest in sight, and with my garden and surrounding gardens being full of cats I thought it best to take him in. I did my research on what to feed him etc and after 3 weeks he was coming along nicely- full tail feathers, beak changing colour, flying everywhere, very chirpy, and generally a very fit bird! He has a small aviary to himself and is loose flying all day.
However, in the last week I noticed two lumps developing on his head- I wondered at first if these were his ears under his feathers but they weren't in the right place. Every day these are getting bigger, and now as you can see they're like a circular boil with something fungus-like in the middle. I've done some research and every result I get is Avian Pox which seems to be contracted from other infected birds or infected feeders, but the lumps this causes is more like warts over the unfeathered areas of the body- they look completely different. But I did find one result which displayed these same growths.
I wonder if this is why his mum threw him out of the nest- mums tend to know if their babies are ill!
Has anyone seen this before? I know I probably can't do anything.. I've read that it's not the disease that kills them, it's the lumps caused by the disease that can grow over their eyes, mouth, legs etc stopping them from seeing, eating and flying which leads to their death.
I'll make him as comfortable as possible. It's just really hard as he's such a happy bird, and it's made me happy seeing him progress every day! If he dies soon, I'll still feel good that I gave him a good few weeks.

Thanks in advance!

Emma

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 06-08-2010, 09:48 AM

Hi Emma
This does not look like avian pox virus to me but then I am no expert.
Have you considered taking the bird to a vet? It might be treatable.

RKB · #3 (**permalink**) 06-08-2010, 09:54 AM

I'm afraid that it is avian pox. It's the 'new' strain that has been spreading through Great Tits (and other species): http://www.ufaw.org.uk/documents/GBH...sheetNov09.pdf

It has probably contracted it through mosquito bites. The lumps will probably get bigger, and the 'fungus' inside is probably a secondary bacterial infection. You could try taking it to a vet, along with the linked sheet, and try explaining this - there is no cure for the pox, and it might recover naturally, but the bacterial infection can make things much worse by acting like a giant invasive boil. It can get very nasty, as in the attached pics.

I certainly wouldn't let it carry on as it is. If you cannot get it treated and the lumps continue to grow, then you'll have to ask a vet to do the worst. Releasing a sick bird is not an option (and a danger to other birds).

dunnockchick · #4 (**permalink**) 06-08-2010, 11:31 AM

Thankyou to you both for your quick replies!

RKB- thankyou for the detailed answer

I agree, the plan was to set him free but I wouldn't dream of doing it now. Do you know what the vet could do for him?

RKB · #5 (**permalink**) 06-08-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunnockchick

Thankyou to you both for your quick replies!

RKB- thankyou for the detailed answer

I agree, the plan was to set him free but I wouldn't dream of doing it now. Do you know what the vet could do for him?

They might be able to give antibiotics or 'lance' the lesion to control the secondary bacterial infection (they often develop a cheesy core, like a big zit). They can't do anything about the pox itself, but that might recover by itself.

Also lookout for nodules/lumps on the toes - Dunnocks are very prone to this other type of pox, and often end up with no feet/legs.