Black splotches on 8mo bantam cochin comb

[StraightOuttaTheCoop]

This little lady's comb appears to have black splotches /scabbing on it. No other members of the flock showing this sign. Some combs are lighter red (on 2 older hens) but not black like this. There are 10 in the flock and are all adjusting to the roo being gone-- found it a permanent home about 10 days ago. This worries me. Is it a scab from pecking? Could it be frostbite? Something worse? She's a popular member of the flock because of her size and willingness to be held, but we have observed that she is generally not friendly to other chickens.

She has been laying just about every day since she began about a month ago. Today she was laying around 4pm and stayed in the nesting box when it got dark. I applied Betadine using a q-tip right after I took the attached photos. Then put her in the roost with the others and she pecked at them when I placed her on the roosting bar. Once I took the flashlight away, she roosted. I will check on her again before bedtime.

I am in the Santa Monica Mountains, where temps are cold (30s) but nothing like those of you in New England and the Midwest. We did have torrential, cold rain for a full day last week, but the flock was sheltered and dry. I replaced all straw in the run that had gotten wet the next morning. They also have a coop heater that I turn on at night that stayed on.

Background/ more info: We adopted her (name is Tiny Lemon, or just Lemon for short) the same week we hatched a full-sized flock back in the spring. She has been integrated from the start and adapted well despite her size. In these strange times, I have not vaccinated any of the chickens; it honestly didn't occur to me until reading some of the forum threads. Have not witnessed any lethargy. She pecks and eats and has been scratching around. She does not appear to be losing weight and her feathers are healthy. Regularly laying as I mentioned above.

Thank you for your input!

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

I can't really speak on the laying around behavior (although is there a chance she may be broody?), although the comb just looks to be scabbed, chances are if she's a little bossy like you've said then she might get into little scraps, and all it takes is one drop of blood for another chicken to want to taste it, and then you end up with a bigger ouchie than before. I wouldn't think that it's a illness thats causing it, I think its just a scab, although I'd love others to chime in just in case :') the tips/points of her comb look a little off but it could just be my screen + scabbing

 

[StraightOuttaTheCoop]

I've just never seen the scabbing so I'll monitor and not freak just yet. Thank you

 

[Shezadandy]

I've just never seen the scabbing so I'll monitor and not freak just yet. Thank you

Definitely scabs - if you want to clean her up, you can use either qtips or squares of gauze dipped in warm water. Those middle two comb tips might be lost (fall off) based on their color.

 

[StraightOuttaTheCoop]

I can't really speak on the laying around behavior (although is there a chance she may be broody?), although the comb just looks to be scabbed, chances are if she's a little bossy like you've said then she might get into little scraps, and all it takes is one drop of blood for another chicken to want to taste it, and then you end up with a bigger ouchie than before. I wouldn't think that it's a illness thats causing it, I think its just a scab, although I'd love others to chime in just in case :') the tips/points of her comb look a little off but it could just be my screen + scabbing

It appears that she is indeed broody, you win a prize. Thank you for suggesting this. Fun times with bossy little chicken