Avian Pox? Bad Circulation? Disease? What could it be....

So I posted yesterday about my rooster crowing non stop. Well thankfully he stopped. But when we went out today to finish his coop I had to actually pick him up to move him. I'm not usually that close to him and when I was I noticed that his comb is turning black. So, google has lead me to believe it's Avian Pox or heart disease causing poor circulation. Is it? What do I immediately need to do for him, and to prevent my other 18 from getting it, if this is something to worry about?



1) What type of bird , age and weight. Mutt Rooster. 15 months. No clue
2) What is the behavior, exactly. Nothing unusual today. Lots of crowing yesterday.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? the blackness? -1 day
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? No, he is alone
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Nothing. No unusual changes in housing, no new birds,etc
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Water, feed, grass, household fruit scraps (all approved)
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. Normal. Large lump, turns white.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Observation
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Treat him myself.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. Posted
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use Straw, inside of his wood (pine) coop



Anyone know? This is literally within the last 24-36hrs, because I did have to pick him up Tuesday night and I did not see it at all.





Wattle looks ok to me



SO bad!!!

He'd be plain pretty cynanotic/dusky looking (along with open beak breathing, probably) if it was cardiac. If dry Pox there would be well defined `bumps'. Does look like Favus on margins of blackened areas (treat with Miconazole - rub antifungal on comb). Could he have gotten into something? Does he range? All of our roo's comb tips start going purple as the sun goes down and he is getting low and logy, but they don't get black. Check him first thing in the morning. It has been pretty warm in your neck of the woods, yes?

Hopeful someone else has seen something similar.

Quote:
No he does not free range. He has a large grassed run just for him but it's only grass and dandelions. I did not notice it until around 4pm today, but my husband said when he let him out this morning it was like that as well. He says it was like that last night but I think I would have noticed. We did have a streak of warm days last week but the last few have been much more cool, rain,etc. Yesterday he spent the WHOLE day crowing, which was really unusual since he is normally a quiet guy. I chalked it up to him being in a mood or being hungry since he's used to treats but hadn't gotten any in a few days. Last night he had two strawberries but no 'new' foods.

Antifungal, like over the counter tubes of it? I'm sure we have some, I will check. Rub it on the whole comb?

This is a tough one. Reason I asked about temp. was on the off chance that it got down around freezing, but I'd guess not.

Only disease I'm aware of that comes close is avian influenza: http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/lesion/360 (but observe the concomitant symptoms - slide 2).

Your roo looks to be very healthy, other than the discoloration (by the way, thank you so much for providing answers to questions in the sticky! Wish everyone would).

Yes, the antifungal ointment is probably already in a drawer (might only be `dust' on comb and not fungus but, massaging it onto comb can give idea of whether comb is less pliable in affected areas or whether it `lightens' up when massaged - could indicate whether it might well be circulatory). I'd also check the skin under feathers on neck behind comb and adjacent areas (is run covered? Could a raptor have stooped on him and nipped? Why was he crowing?). Regardless, keep track of speed and percent increase/decrease in `blackening' on a daily basis (photo comparisons should do - or mark at margins with a blue sharpie).

One of the larger lymph glands (Harder) is supplied with blood by the same artery that supplies comb so, it might be possible their is something infectious going on, but that is a stretch. Keep watch for any well defined circular areas forming (pox) or any change to diet, etc.


From: http://books.google.com/books?q=anatomy+of+the+domestic+fowl+Benamin+Franklyn+Kaupp ( (out of copyright 6.5MB PDF. Benjamin Franklyn Kaupp, 1918, 363pg.) - some changes have occurred in terminology over the years but this is a very complete reference.

Other references with photos and info (searchable and current -useful to download and keep on hand):

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/
http://www.avianmedicine.net/ampa.html


Please post up any changes. Good luck to you and your roo!

I notice he is a Buff Orphington roo. I am having the same problem with my buff hens. beginning to wonder if bad hearts are a heriditary thing with the buffs. They usually croak, sorry. If some one has ideas for curing this problem, please speak up. My hens are with several other breeds and they are only 1 year old and I've lost 5 in this past year. All with the blackening combs, all buffs