Black specks on her comb?

[andythescot]

One of my RIRs has a VERY LARGE comb, and for a few weeks I've noticed a few black specks on it. I decided not to worry about it too much because she is acting fine. But today I picked her up to take a closer look. I thought it was dirt, so I tried to wipe it/pick it off. When I picked off an especially large piece at the base, it was like I picked off a scab, and there was a little blood underneath.

What are these dots?! Is she sick? Should I buy some medicine for her?

 

[Dora'smom]

Sometimes they have black specks on their comb or wattles if they have been pecking at each other a little. It also could be fowl pox, which would appear as spots on the comb and/or wattles. You can look up images of fowl pox on google (I just did) and that might help you to decide what you are looking at.

 

[andythescot]

I don't think its fowl pox, but upon closer inspection, all the rest of the flock have it too. Except for one EE who just has a lot of greyish dirt stuck in the folds of her comb. Is it important to clean combs regularly?

I live in Massachusetts if it helps.

Here are some pictures, sorry they aren't great quality, I had to use my computer's camera because our real camera is on a trip right now. Its hard to see them, but they are there. I'll post better pictures when I get the chance.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I don't see anything in those pics that looks like pox. The black spots are probably just scabs - from picking at each other. The one you noticed first may be at the bottom of the pecking order and getting picked on a little more than the rest.

 

[andythescot]

Yea, thats the part that doesn't make sense.. she is smack dab in the middle of the pecking order! Plus I hardly ever see any pecking going on, and when there is, its from alpha hen to omega hen.

 

[pgpoultry]

Occasionally mites can cause black spots, but it doesn't look like that.

Doesn't look at all like pox.

I wouldn't worry,

Sandie