1 black comb and 2 poopy bums

[Ermpickle]

Some backstory: I have three hens all just turned 1 year. One of them just hatched chicks. The other two have been free-ranging around the yard like they have their whole life. I have two issues that I'd like to put in one post if that's okay.

First issue: My black copper Marans has black splotches on her comb and wattles, her ears are nearly black. I'm pretty sure she's always been that way but my Mom came over today to help me vaccinate the chicks and now she has me worried that there's something wrong. There are no sores or anything, other than the color everything appears normal and healthy. (I don't believe it's frostbite, she was like this before the winter if I remember correctly But I can't find any pictures)

Second issue: Both of these hens have some poo on their bum feathers, again I wasn't worried because it's not much but now my mom has me concerned. I'm not sure if it's related but they have both slowed down laying. I assumed both issues are related to the heat wave we have had (it went from 60s to upper 80s). My thought was they're drinking more water so their poops would be a little bit more runny and the heat is stressing them out so they aren't laying as much. I'm now worried all of these small things are actually something big.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

@azygous

 

[azygous]

It's easy to get carried away with worry when multiple issues crop up, especially when The Mother points them out.

To give yourself a lifeline back to reality, focus on the behavior of your chickens. If they are going about their chickeny lives in a chickeny way, and they aren't lethargic or behaving out of their norm, then they do not have any screaming life threatening issues.

The blackened comb on the one chicken is weird. That's a scientific term for "have no clue what this could be". Have you tried to wash it off? I have chickens that dirt bathe in some pretty black dirt from time to time and they get filthy. When they shake out the dirt, the comb still remains dirty.

Since the photos were long shots, it's not possible to see up close what the black comb texture is. Maybe take some more photos and make them closeups.

The poopy butts are fixable. Fill a basin with warm water, and have the garden hose handy for rinsing. I use baby body wash and it rinses out easily. Your hot weather will air dry the butts to their former fluffy splendor.

The Mother will be so proud of you.

 

[Ermpickle]

It's easy to get carried away with worry when multiple issues crop up, especially when The Mother points them out.

To give yourself a lifeline back to reality, focus on the behavior of your chickens. If they are going about their chickeny lives in a chickeny way, and they aren't lethargic or behaving out of their norm, then they do not have any screaming life threatening issues.

The blackened comb on the one chicken is weird. That's a scientific term for "have no clue what this could be". Have you tried to wash it off? I have chickens that dirt bathe in some pretty black dirt from time to time and they get filthy. When they shake out the dirt, the comb still remains dirty.

Since the photos were long shots, it's not possible to see up close what the black comb texture is. Maybe take some more photos and make them closeups.

The poopy butts are fixable. Fill a basin with warm water, and have the garden hose handy for rinsing. I use baby body wash and it rinses out easily. Your hot weather will air dry the butts to their former fluffy splendor.

The Mother will be so proud of you.

Thank you so much! Waking up to this, you are my lifeline back to reality lol! My girls have been going about their chickeny business as usual I hadn't worried before now because they've been acting fine. To be honest my mom was in a grumpy mood and I think she was just being hypercritical but I didn't want include that at first and "skew the verdict" lol. It's better safe than sorry though!

I don't have baby shampoo but I do have hypoallergenic puppy shampoo, would that work or should I just use water? Ironically today is overcast and actually really nice out. The girls have been making a racket so I'm sure they're happy about it.

I'll post back later with some close ups of her comb From what I can tell it's a normal texture but I'll pick her up and get a better look to be sure. I'm definitely leaning towards your diagnosis of "weird"

 

[azygous]

Glad the lifeline worked. Yes, the puppy shampoo will work fine. Some even use Dawn detergent, but after using that on my own head one time, NO, don't use Dawn. Trust me.

 

[Ermpickle]

Glad the lifeline worked. Yes, the puppy shampoo will work fine. Some even use Dawn detergent, but after using that on my own head one time, NO, don't use Dawn. Trust me.

My hair is dry enough as is I can't imagine what dawn would do to it
Okay so butts are cleaned and pictures are taken. After I got the pics I tried to clean her comb and there was a little dirt but I'm thinking this is just how her comb looks because there aren't any sores and it's dry. Unless it's cholera? I've only seen pics of that online.

p.s. she does have what looks like a small spot of blood under her right nostril but I'm pretty sure that from the other hen pecking her when I threw treats down to catch them

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Has her comb always been black? At first I thought she looked like she was mixed with Ayam Ceyami but the close ups look more like fowl pox. If that were the case you would see it on the other hens and it would be gone in a few weeks from what I understand. Also you would have some sneezing going on with your chickens. Those are my only ideas

 

[azygous]

Stellar photos! It's very easy to see now what is causing the comb to appear blackened.

Try Blu-kote on the comb and wattles and paint over the entire areas where those black lesions occur. Keep applying the Blue-kote daily for at least a week, then let it wear off and see what you have.

Those lesions may be from the dry form of fowl pox. If you have mosquitoes, it would lend credence to this diagnosis. In any event, the black dots are probably harmless and should clear up eventually.

 

[Ermpickle]

Has her comb always been black? At first I thought she looked like she was mixed with Ayam Ceyami but the close ups look more like fowl pox. If that were the case you would see it on the other hens and it would be gone in a few weeks from what I understand. Also you would have some sneezing going on with your chickens. Those are my only ideas

Stellar photos! It's very easy to see now what is causing the comb to appear blackened.

Try Blu-kote on the comb and wattles and paint over the entire areas where those black lesions occur. Keep applying the Blue-kote daily for at least a week, then let it wear off and see what you have.

Those lesions may be from the dry form of fowl pox. If you have mosquitoes, it would lend credence to this diagnosis. In any event, the black dots are probably harmless and should clear up eventually.

Soo I'm pretty sure it has always been like this but I don't fully remember. At some point last year I was like "oh no! my chicken has frostbite" and then immediately "oh wait! It's not even cold yet, I guess she's just weird" lol. I just don't remember at what point I thought that :/

We absolutely have our fair share of mosquitoes so I'll give the blu-kote and try! Probably should get some guineas too lol. Thank you so much for all of your help!