Hello, I've recently begun raising a few chickens and noticed today that one of them had a strange black spot on her comb. Is this something to be worried about? What, if anything, should I do for her?
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a 7 month old Buff Orpington. Not sure about the weight. Size/weight-wise she is in the middle compared to my others: She's a lot larger that the two Ameraucanas and smaller than the Jersey Giant. (All my chickens are about 7 months old.)
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Black spot on the comb (see photo). I don't know if this is related, but she's easy to catch and pick up today. Normally, she's rather skittish and would only come to me if I have cracked corn in my hand.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I just noticed the spot there today. I haven't spent much time with them yesterday or the day before, so I'm not sure when it first manifested.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Not that I see.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
N/A
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Commercial layer feed pellets, some cracked corn, and then whatever they find when I let them run around the yard.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
I don't see anything out of the ordinary.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Nothing yet.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Ideally, I'd prefer to treat myself. With the pandemic, the fewer visits out of the house, the better.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Attached
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
Coop has pine shavings and the run has straw. (See attached photo: This is when I built it this summer. It's not that clean any more. Coop occupies left half of the roofed section.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
She's a 7 month old Buff Orpington. Not sure about the weight. Size/weight-wise she is in the middle compared to my others: She's a lot larger that the two Ameraucanas and smaller than the Jersey Giant. (All my chickens are about 7 months old.)
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Black spot on the comb (see photo). I don't know if this is related, but she's easy to catch and pick up today. Normally, she's rather skittish and would only come to me if I have cracked corn in my hand.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I just noticed the spot there today. I haven't spent much time with them yesterday or the day before, so I'm not sure when it first manifested.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Not that I see.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
N/A
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Commercial layer feed pellets, some cracked corn, and then whatever they find when I let them run around the yard.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
I don't see anything out of the ordinary.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Nothing yet.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Ideally, I'd prefer to treat myself. With the pandemic, the fewer visits out of the house, the better.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Attached
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use.
Coop has pine shavings and the run has straw. (See attached photo: This is when I built it this summer. It's not that clean any more. Coop occupies left half of the roofed section.
