Black stuff around beak, eyes, comb, and chickens dying

[tcombest]

I have a coop out in the country with a dirt floor. The coop is very dirty and not very airey. I have lost about 20 chickens. They get black spots on their comb and around their beak. Their comb begins to droop. The chickens act fine, may be a little lethargic. Whatever this is that is getting on them, or whatever disease, it appears that they can build an immunity to it. I have three chickens left that previously had the black stuff and it doesn't seem to affect them anymore and they appear healthy. If I put new chickens in that same coop, they get this stuff after a few days. I have two chickens about 20 feet away in their own coop, and they don't have any of this. And they somewhat comingle with the others, but don't go in their coop.

I put 10 turken chicks in there about a week ago. I noticed some of them have the black crud starting around their beak and head, and they are dying now. I don't know if this is some sort of virus / bacteria, or is it mites or something like that. At first I thought mites, but they seem to develope an immunity, or at least the stronger ones do that survive this plague.

I live in central Texas. This started last summer. We've had several hard freezes that I thought might help, but it doesn't seem to have had any effect.

Any ideas?

 

[easttxchick]

You might try doing a search on fowl pox and checking out the pictures to see if that's what you're dealing with.

 

[Sootsie]

sorry no idea what it could be but if the coop is very dirty and not airy i would suggest getting it clean and ventilated and untill you find out what the problem is isolate the affected birds and do not add any more

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Sounds like fowl pox to me also. If you use the search in the upper blue bar, left side of the page just above your logged in name - you will get many, many threads about fowl pox. (not something I have delt with)


If you coop is very dirty and not airy - - you will have many, many problems besides fowl pox. I would clean and put in ventilation - before adding any more birds.

 

[ranchhand]

I agree, I'd start with fowl pox. But do spend some time searching in the Emergencies section, it could be a parasite as well. If you could post some pics of them it might help.

Best wishes for finding and treating the problem soon!

 

[tcombest]

Thank all of y'all for your replies. I did some google homework just now and also on BYC and it does seem to be Fowl Pox. It looks like I will probably be doing a coop overhaul. Again, thanks.