Beige white clumps on silkie roosters comb?

[MyUserNamee]

There's these off white colored clumps growing on two of my roosters combs wherever there's grooves in their comb it seems? They're pretty hard, but still have a slight softness to them, feel kind of like the texture of a seed you let soak but a bit tougher. Has anyone else come across this? What can be done to remove them?

I'm assuming it's not infectious since they've both had these a year or so, both chickens are related and in different pens, but they're still the only chickens that have them.

Some of them are removable if you put a lot of effort to try to remove them, but then they leave a hole in their comb. (Too small you can't, and too big you can't remove them either)

 

[QueenMisha]

I have seen this in a select few cockerels, of varying breeds and environments but always having a pea or walnut style comb. Specifically I have only seen it in those fed a layer feed, which cocks should not be fed. My thoughts are that it's the bird excreting calcium through the comb.

 

[QueenMisha]

Interesting and sounds like a good guess... thank you. I do feed him the same stuff that everyone else eats. Layer crumble. What should I feed him instead and how to keep him from eating the others feed? I have 1 roo & 3 hens.. small operation but they are our little family of chickens. So not sure what my choices are.

A flock which includes cockerels should simply be fed a flock raiser or grower ration. The hens can be supplemented with oyster shell. This is because the excess calcium in layer feed can have severe impacts on the kidneys of cockerels, as they are forced to filter out the large amounts of calcium. In studies, 70% of the males fed a layer ration developed bilaterally enlarged kidneys (they grew to make up for the damage being caused) and 8% developed potentially life threatening kidney stones.

 

[333113]

A flock which includes cockerels should simply be fed a flock raiser or grower ration. The hens can be supplemented with oyster shell. This is because the excess calcium in layer feed can have severe impacts on the kidneys of cockerels, as they are forced to filter out the large amounts of calcium. In studies, 70% of the males fed a layer ration developed bilaterally enlarged kidneys (they grew to make up for the damage being caused) and 8% developed potentially life threatening kidney stones.

Could you please let us know what studies you are quoting? I could not find any actual study online that said this, just lots of opinions. I looked at the Merck Veterinary manual online for effects of calcium in feed:
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultr...t-poultry/nutritional-requirements-of-poultry

I don't see that they call out a danger of excess calcium, but they do discuss the phosphorus to calcium ratio.

We live in an area of Missouri with lots of limestone and my chickens have had access to the local rocks and soil and water, which all have more than average amounts of calcium, according to the soil and water testing we did when we first purchased our property over twenty years ago. Most of my roosters live well over seven, and I have quite a few show winners among my breeders. I don't have Silkies, but I do have breeds with pea combs and rose combs.

I would be interested to see what studies you have found on cockerels consuming layer ration.

 

[333113]

@ChickenCanoe has a good post with links that may address some of your questions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rooster-feed.1135975/post-17599917

Okay, I read through the articles where the links are good. It appears to me that the articles about feed for roosters and pullets pertain to meat broilers and battery layers, which might explain why I don't see these effects, since I raise heritage breeds.

The articles on epidydmal lithiosis plainly states that it is a dysfunction of unknown origin that may have been the result of aggressive selection for egg laying in hens without regard for the effects in roosters. No feed recommendations are stated in these articles. Again, since I am breeding heritage chickens and selecting for a wide range of traits, this is probably not a trait in my breeding stock.

Dr. Temple Grandin, who has some excellent breeding advice, notes that blindly selecting for a few traits can lead to the accidental selection of unwanted traits...hip dysplasia in German Shepherd type dogs comes to mind.

I suppose it's possible that some folks here could see a negative effect on roosters for using layer ration if they are raising meat broilers. I don't see that there is strong advice on feeding roosters with epididymal lithiosis, since the origin is unknown. Perhaps for raising roosters it would be better not to select breeds that are hybridized for maximum laying.

I have to think, based on these articles, the best choice for a backyard chicken owner would be a dual-purpose breed, and then the choice of whether to allow the roosters to have layer feed wouldn't be so important.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am stumped with this. It doesn't look much like favus, a fungal infection. It possibly could be pecking that has caused little abscesses. Maybe others will have a suggestion.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This may sound far fetched, but if I'm not mistaken Silkies (especially roosters) have quite a few normal peaks, "craters", and crevices in their combs to begin with (?)
If you feed crumble food could it be food or even dirt from dust bathing that has gotten into comb and hardened? Like food that will sometimes impact the nares (nostrils).
You could try soaking/softening a couple of the clumps with a little peroxide and see if it comes out more easily.
Just a guess

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/PluggedNare/PluggedNare.html

 

[irishlmg60]

I have a silkie roo that is 1 year old. I clean his little walnut routinely and wondered what the "white crud" is that I get out of his creases. It does not appear to have any odor (although I haven't tried smelling it) he is so good to let me gently remove it.
Considering I do this maybe once about every 2 weeks I am amazed at how much junk that has collected in the creases? What is it it?
The internet is very limited on information on the walnut comb. I figured people that show their roo's keep their birds clean so perhaps that is a resource to turn to. Thank you no photos taken sorry I will at the next cleaning.

 

[irishlmg60]

Interesting and sounds like a good guess... thank you. I do feed him the same stuff that everyone else eats. Layer crumble. What should I feed him instead and how to keep him from eating the others feed? I have 1 roo & 3 hens.. small operation but they are our little family of chickens. So not sure what my choices are.

 

[irishlmg60]

Did you find out the cause of these little white clumps?
A member just answered my post and suggested it could be calcium from layer feed. Anyway I have searched high and low for information on SilkieS home care of their combs and find nothing. Good luck and keep us updated on your progrss