Black comb - rooster

[Bigbluefrog]

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Could be frostbite.

 

[MysteryChicken]

What's your weather like?

 

[Bigbluefrog]

He is 8 months old and his comb turned black this fall. I been putting neosporin on it daily so some of that is dirt. See the dirt on his feathers. I take him inside and gently wash it with tepid water let it dry and apply vasoline or neosporin. Then stick him in the coop with a warming light for a few minutes. We have a smaller coop with 12 birds. Large roosts so their feet are okay. I haven’t been heating because people say that is bad.
I do have adequate venting. And no direct wind. The glass window in their coop is always clear no moisture on it.
So I was told by the previous owner his birds get black combs and he said it will heal on its own.
Anyone see this before?
Anything else I can do?
I could heat coop, I got a 100 watt ceramic bulb set up in it.

this rooster was given to me, he is a big boy and a real sweetie.

Buff Orpington and this year I got Rhode island reds. All with larger combs- Augh! We have cold nights in central Wisconsin.
I think I will have to stick to Barred Ricks or Nee Hampshire breeds - seem more cold hardy.
Is something else I can do for them?

 

[Bigbluefrog]

I have an enclosed run too that I put plastic on it to insulate from wind. So they have an 8 by 12 enclosed run attached to 8 by 6 coop. And a fenced in outside yard with a shed that I open up during the day. I have a smaller coop set up in that with a red light and food for sick birds and littles.
My husband says I spoil them! And yet this happens - I am a bad chicken momma

 

[Bigbluefrog]

What's your weather like?

Cold windy and chilly, I should just heat the coop! Idk you read about fires. I have that light wired 3 ways so it won’t fall.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Cold windy and chilly, I should just heat the coop! Idk you read about fires. I have that light wired 3 ways so it won’t fall.

Like how cold? Has it been in the negatives?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

My rooster had his comb frostbitten just spending the day outside at 17 degrees F. How well ventilated is your coop? The higher the humidity, the more likely they are to get frost bite at night. If it is frostbite, your boy will be fine, the severely damaged parts will fall off eventually though.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you share some pictures of the inside of your coop? A closeup of his comb in good light could help as well. Blood from pecking or injuries from metal fencing can cause a black apearance. This looks like it has gotten on his feathers under the comb. Is there anything else he could have gotten into that caused the black color? Do you use any wood ash in a dust bath?

 

[West Bend]

You said it turned black in the fall? How long ago & at what temp was it at the time?