Black freckles on comb (not blood)

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I noticed a couple weeks ago that my Young cockerel has faint black specks or freckles on his comb. I was curious about it but forgot to ask. Then today I discovered them on my rooster, too. (Who happens to be this boy’s daddy). Is it something to be concerned about, or just coloration?

If it matters, the young cockerel is about 6-7 weeks in this picture. His mom is a lavender Orpington. The rooster is an Orpington mixed with Rhode Island Blue.

 

[Theorrin]

I found this:

Melanosis: The black spots on a chicken's comb are often the result of a harmless condition known as melanosis. Melanosis is caused by the deposition of pigment, or melanin, in the skin cells of the comb. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including exposure to sunlight, genetics, and hormonal changes.

 

[Jjynx]

From what I’ve heard they can have a mulberry face gene that makes part of the face darker. If they’re acting normally I would assume it’s harmless.

 

[Jackie-83]

One of my Orpington hens had this. I tried to wash it off, without success. checked for mites and such, but found none. Over time it seemed to come and go. I never did find a cause or treatment. My best guess is bruising.

 

[Jjynx]

I have a couple roosters that have similar but they’re part ayam cemani and started with a black comb that turned red with age.

 

[Jackie-83]

I honestly don't know. I'm on my first flock with no prior experience. So I'm here to learn as well. It never seemed like a big deal to my girls though. But I've always wondered what it was.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I found this:

Melanosis: The black spots on a chicken's comb are often the result of a harmless condition known as melanosis. Melanosis is caused by the deposition of pigment, or melanin, in the skin cells of the comb. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including exposure to sunlight, genetics, and hormonal changes.

Good job. I couldn’t find anything other than fighting/blood and fowl pox as I Googled it. This seems like the most logical explanation.

 

[Jackie-83]

He purdy! Can you maybe take pics on a weekly basis just to track changes?

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I have a couple roosters that have similar but they’re part ayam cemani and started with a black comb that turned red with age.

Thats interesting. This rooster also produced a pullet with a primarily black comb (with no black-combed breeds involved). I wonder if my rooster could carry a gene that makes black combs…? His parents are hatchery birds so anything is possible.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

One of my Orpington hens had this. I tried to wash it off, without success. checked for mites and such, but found none. Over time it seemed to come and go. I never did find a cause or treatment. My best guess is bruising.

I can’t figure out if these freckles have always been there or if they’ve just shown up recently. They don’t stand out, so it’s hard to know.