Black spots on comb!

Georgiahome622

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Hi chicken helpers!

Several of my flock of 12 have suddenly developed black spots on their combs and a couple have lumps on their beaks. They sleep in a coop with run and free range all day. It has been damp/rainy on and off lately and the mosquitos are pretty bad.
Any ideas on what could be wrong? They are 8 months old and otherwise have had no issues.

pic attached.
 

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Yes, that is obviously fowl pox. It is a virus spread by mosquitoes in warm weather, and more common in southern tropical areas. It lasts about 3 weeks, and most chickens recover. It requires no treatment. Here is a good article about pox:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/fowl-pox-prevention-treatmen/
 
Some people in Florida use screen wire cut into strips to cover their coop doors, and screens over their windows to keep out mosquitoes. Permethrin spray 0.5 % can be used to spray the coop for mosquitoes, and it lasts about a month. Do not use around cats or if you raise bees.
 
Florida boy here... Zappers don't attract mosquitoes or no-see-ums. There are certain plants/herbs that are safe for chickens and repel mosquitoes. Also citronella of course. No-see-ums are very poor fliers and a box fan in the coop with keep them at bay. Both those pests are blood suckers and disease spreaders. There is a tighter weave screen for no-see-ums that will double for mosquitoes but not the other way round. Good luck!
 

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