Black Comb

[protodon]

One of my Roosters has a comb that is slowly turning black, or at least it looks like it is. I don't know if this is that Blackhead disease that chickens have. He doesn't seem to have any other symptoms. He is perfectly healthy. He's only about a year old and I thought maybe the blackening was from frostbite during his first winter but it never fell off or anything. And it's more of a faded black. I also have a hen, possibly his daughter, that has a slightly black comb and it has started to flop over. Could this be genetic or is it some sort of disease?

ETA: Also the black is only on the back edges, kind of how frostbite would form but it's not frostbite.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Do you have a photo? What colour of skin does the bird have, and what colour are its legs?

 

[Nif]

My 2 cochin roosters had mites so bad once they were even crawling around on their combs. Can you see any small grayish bugs moving around on their cheeks, combs, or skin? They are slower moving than lice and pretty small, but you can see them. Lice are light brown and move really fast.
They made their combs dull and looked unhealthy in general. I got rid of the mites and their combs went back to normal.
You will get the "creepy crawlies" (you know, that horrible feeling you have bugs crawling all over you) but they (poultry lice and mites) are species specific...meaning they won't live on you or your cats or dog. Hopefully someone can back me up on that?

 

[tuffolbird]

We need a photo to narrow the possibilities. Because you say the bird is otherwise healthy, I am inclined to believe it is a parasite, possibly stick-tight fleas. Is there any discoloration of the toes? Does the comb look slightly blue?

 

[Sillystunt]

could it be fowl pox? Please post a picture! I need to see~

 

[protodon]

I will try to get a pic tomorrow! I usually don't look too closely at my birds they are all pretty skittish. The roosters feet are pinkish I would guess. One of my heads that has a comb like this has dark grey feet/legs. Most of my newer chickens are buff orp black star crosses if that helps. This rooster and hen are lumped in that group.

Now I have gotten that creepy crawly feeling from handling some birds but not always. Actually it was this one time when my one hen was brooding and sitting and she didn't move for 3 weeks and I was checking her eggs but otherwise they all take dust baths pretty regularly. How does one get rid of mites or lice in chickens? Some kind of powder?

 

[Sillystunt]

sevin dust! It's in the garden section

 

[kathyinmo]

Please read this thread. I think you will find it very helpful ....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2718760