black stuff on chicken's comb

[libby38]

Can anyone tell me what this black stuff is on my chicken's comb? She's a 4 month rhode island red. She's acting completely normal and lays everyday... It was sticky a couple days ago, but is dried out now. Its very hot here, so its definitely not frostbite...

 

[pemphredo]

Looks like blood. When chickens fight they hold on to each other combs and wattles. They get a little bloody some times. Do you have other chickens with her? They could be fighting a bit.

 

[pemphredo]

might I add it's beak does look bloody

 

[libby38]

Thanks pemphredo! I do have two other hens with her and one has a much smaller amount of this. The other is an Americana and thought her comb is very small, she has none. I was thinking it was blood too, but it seemed like a lot!

 

[pemphredo]

their combs are quite vascular. That is why they are so red naturally. It doesn't take much to get them to bleed.

ps... no one seems to reply to post any more.... I post in here all the time and I swear no one cares.... I am sorry I was the only person to reply. I hope I helped though.

 

[welasharon]

1- didn't see the post till now so could not post earlier....
2-not everyone has an opinion on problem
3-have you tried washing it off? It doesn't look right for fowl pox but is spread oddly for it to be blood unless it is scraped like a skint knee kind of thing. Pecked spots are not usually spread out like that (almost looks like a rash).
My best guesses.

 

[libby38]

pemphredo- Thanks again- it really does seem like she's being grabbed rather than just pecked at because the spots are in the same areas on both sides of her comb.

welasharon- I was able to wipe some off with a wet rag. I didn't think it looked like other pictures I'd seen of fowl pox either, and she's acting totally healthy. What kind of rashes can chickens get? Thanks for your reply as well!

 

[welasharon]

pemphredo- Thanks again- it really does seem like she's being grabbed rather than just pecked at because the spots are in the same areas on both sides of her comb.  

welasharon-  I was able to wipe some off with a wet rag.  I didn't think it looked like other pictures I'd seen of fowl pox either, and she's acting totally healthy.  What kind of rashes can chickens get?  Thanks for your reply as well!

What did it look like under where it wiped off. I don't know really of any rashes although it sure looks like that doesn't it?
another thought....can she be shoving her head in between two somethings that could be rubbing or scraping her?

 

[libby38]

welasharon- It looked pretty normal under where I wiped off. Interesting thought about the scraping- I don't think there's a spot, but I will look into it.

If it is blood from fighting, should I be concerned?

 

[welasharon]

welasharon- It looked pretty normal under where I wiped off.  Interesting thought about the scraping- I don't think there's a spot, but I will look into it.  

If it is blood from fighting, should I be concerned?

I just can't see how it could be fighting and be so wide spread and "rash-like". It almost looks more dirt-like than blood. When you wiped it did it look red like blood on the wrag?