Bump/'wart' on hens comb & how to treat

[Metal_Robot]

 

[coach723]

It looks like some kind of injury. Rather than a 'growth' I think it's one of the tips of the comb. It will likely dry up and fall off. Combs usually heal up fine. It may have gotten hung up on fence wire or something, or been pecked by another bird. I would just keep an eye on it. Most likely it will continue to darken, dry and shrivel up, and then fall off. As long as the bird is acting fine, I would just watch it. If you do see any signs of infection (unlikely) then you can gently dab some plain triple antibiotic ointment on it.

 

[sourland]

It looks like some kind of injury. Rather than a 'growth' I think it's one of the tips of the comb. It will likely dry up and fall off. Combs usually heal up fine. It may have gotten hung up on fence wire or something, or been pecked by another bird. I would just keep an eye on it. Most likely it will continue to darken, dry and shrivel up, and then fall off. As long as the bird is acting fine, I would just watch it. If you do see any signs of infection (unlikely) then you can gently dab some plain triple antibiotic ointment on it.

Great assessment and suggestions.

 

[Metal_Robot]

It looks like some kind of injury. Rather than a 'growth' I think it's one of the tips of the comb. It will likely dry up and fall off. Combs usually heal up fine. It may have gotten hung up on fence wire or something, or been pecked by another bird. I would just keep an eye on it. Most likely it will continue to darken, dry and shrivel up, and then fall off. As long as the bird is acting fine, I would just watch it. If you do see any signs of infection (unlikely) then you can gently dab some plain triple antibiotic ointment on it.

Thank you so much for the reply! I've been really watching it and nothing has spread anywhere else and none of the other chickens have anything wrong with them. I also checked this particular hens mouth and there was no sores or anything.

 

[Metal_Robot]

Great assessment and suggestions.

I attached an additional photo to show the other side of her face. She seems to have more bumps on that side.

 

[coach723]

Those also look like pecking injuries to me. If the comb bled when the injury happened, and combs can bleed a lot, that will attract pecking from others, they are drawn to blood. How many birds do you have, in how much space? All hens?
Small chance that the one near the eye could be fowl pox, but it looks more like injury to me. Fowl pox is a virus that is transmitted by mosquito's and usually runs it's course in a few weeks with no real problems. I don't think that's what it is, but covering the possibility.

 

[Metal_Robot]

Those also look like pecking injuries to me. If the comb bled when the injury happened, and combs can bleed a lot, that will attract pecking from others, they are drawn to blood. How many birds do you have, in how much space? All hens?
Small chance that the one near the eye could be fowl pox, but it looks more like injury to me. Fowl pox is a virus that is transmitted by mosquito's and usually runs it's course in a few weeks with no real problems. I don't think that's what it is, but covering the possibility.

I have a big fenced backyard and their coop is the size of a medium shed (4 pallet floor 7 pallet walls. I have one rooster and three hens so they have a LOT of space. I've been running a box fan in their coop during the day to hopefully keep mosquitoes & flys out. I also clean the coop of any poopies once a week.

 

[coach723]

How old are they? It's also possible that the roo (cockerel if he's under a year old) caused the comb injury. They usually grab the back of the head with their beak when they mount, if he missed, he may have grabbed the comb accidentally.

 

[Metal_Robot]

How old are they? It's also possible that the roo (cockerel if he's under a year old) caused the comb injury. They usually grab the back of the head with their beak when they mount, if he missed, he may have grabbed the comb accidentally.

I got them all at the same time. They just turned 18 weeks last Sunday the 15th. The rooster started roosting within the last month or so. None of the hens have started laying yet though (which is fine, they'll start when they're ready).

 

[coach723]

Cockerels are notorious for being rough and rude, until they get it all figured out. And some of them will start mounting, or trying to mount, before the hens are quite ready. Do some observing, see if that is going on. Sometimes the pullets will say 'no' and he won't take no for an answer, which can cause injuries. Long term, 3 hens is very low for a roo, usually 10 to 1 is a good starting ratio. Your hens will probably get rough looking from being over bred. Every boy is different, every flock is different, what works for one rooster or flock may not work for another. If he's being rough, sometimes they have to be separated until they are more mature and calm down some. Cockerels that grow up in a flock that has mature roosters in it, often learn faster, how to treat the girls and behave. Older hens are also better at schooling them. Just some things to be aware of. If you don't want to hatch eggs, then many people choose to just not have a rooster, rather than dealing with them. Some of them are wonderful to keep, and some of them are not . I have 3 roo's currently, and I choose very carefully which ones I keep. Again, if you don't want to hatch eggs, then keeping one is not a necessity.