Chicken growing black infection on comb

[Jack21600]

Hi all,
I have a white leg horn chicken for 11 years now and recently started to notice a black round infection growing on her wattle in the past year (refer to pictures). Before it all turned black, I noticed blood coming out of this area which soon then later turned out like this. Kinda looks like dead skin or something, not too sure. I haven't done anything to treat this problem.
She has been acting normally during this time and is still healthy and occasionally lays eggs. She lives with another Isa brown chicken but they both get along really well.

Anyone have any idea of what this could be? Should taking her to the vet be considered?

 

[azygous]

If you can afford a visit to a vet, by all means do it.

I'll offer a disclaimer up front - a photo will only provide limited clues, so you will probably only get guesses from us folks here.

The comb is the top part where the black spot is, and the wattles are the part hanging down under the beak, by the way. Since you mentioned the black lesion was bleeding at one point, much of the black could be dried blood.

Do you have castor oil or coconut oil on hand? Both have antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. You can use the oil and a cotton ball to gently clean the lesion, and see how much of the black crust will come off. After you do that, take another closeup of the comb and post it so we can see what's under the black scab. Finish up with a coating of oil on the lesion to protect it.

If you are in the USA, pick up some Vetericyn spray from the feed store, and use that on the lesion before you put oil on it. It's very good stuff and can help heal the wound.

Have you had any freezing cold weather lately where frostbite could account for this? Or how about the opposite - is it hot and humid where you are. Filling out your profile will let us know your general location, and that provides a lot of information when we try to diagnose.

 

[Jack21600]

If you can afford a visit to a vet, by all means do it.

I'll offer a disclaimer up front - a photo will only provide limited clues, so you will probably only get guesses from us folks here.

The comb is the top part where the black spot is, and the wattles are the part hanging down under the beak, by the way. Since you mentioned the black lesion was bleeding at one point, much of the black could be dried blood.

Do you have castor oil or coconut oil on hand? Both have antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. You can use the oil and a cotton ball to gently clean the lesion, and see how much of the black crust will come off. After you do that, take another closeup of the comb and post it so we can see what's under the black scab. Finish up with a coating of oil on the lesion to protect it.

If you are in the USA, pick up some Vetericyn spray from the feed store, and use that on the lesion before you put oil on it. It's very good stuff and can help heal the wound.

Have you had any freezing cold weather lately where frostbite could account for this? Or how about the opposite - is it hot and humid where you are. Filling out your profile will let us know your general location, and that provides a lot of information when we try to diagnose.

Hi,
Thanks for your response azygous.
Before the black spot occurred I managed to take a photo on the 21st July 2017 of the bleeding which I had noticed and became concerned. I remember the same thing happened that a black spot had grown before this photo and seemed to have come off her comb which then I noticed it was bleeding. Should I leave it until it comes off naturally and apply then caster oil or coconut oil to the wound? I was also concerned if this may have been fowl pox.. but I'm sure its dried blood. But also if it is dried blood, do you may know why it grows like an infection?
Also I live in Australia and is currently in summer but the photo taken on the 21st July was in the middle of winter.

Thanks

 

[azygous]

Is it humid right now? Was it very cold when the lesion first occurred?

It looks more like fowl pox than frost bite. But I haven't seen fowl pox with that appearance.

Has it been present on her comb without letup since you first noticed it in winter? Has it gotten worse? Or has it remained about the same? Did it start off covering that same area, or did it begin with little black dots?

If it's fungal or bacterial, coconut oil or castor oil will counter either. If you're game, I'd recommend the oil for a week, then if it doesn't improve, I'd try Blu-kote. Do you have that where you are? It's basically gentian violet. It would act the opposite of the oil treatment by drying out the wound instead of keeping it moist.

If it's warm and humid, I'd probably try the Blu-kote first.

 

[Jack21600]

Is it humid right now? Was it very cold when the lesion first occurred?

It looks more like fowl pox than frost bite. But I haven't seen fowl pox with that appearance.

Has it been present on her comb without letup since you first noticed it in winter? Has it gotten worse? Or has it remained about the same? Did it start off covering that same area, or did it begin with little black dots?

If it's fungal or bacterial, coconut oil or castor oil will counter either. If you're game, I'd recommend the oil for a week, then if it doesn't improve, I'd try Blu-kote. Do you have that where you are? It's basically gentian violet. It would act the opposite of the oil treatment by drying out the wound instead of keeping it moist.

If it's warm and humid, I'd probably try the Blu-kote first.

It is currently warm now, but it all started when blood was coming out of her comb like the one on the picture, and then slowly overtime the black lesion started to occur. I don't think the weather has had a factor from this injury but maybe a scratch or cut made her bleed from the comb and the black lesion makes it look like the skin is trying to regrow on it or something or could be dried up blood. I don't remember seeing any black dots on her comb, only the fact that it was black let me to think it may have been fowl pox. Should I apply the castor or coconut oil directly to the black lesion or wait for it to come off and apply it to the wound. Maybe drying out the black lesion may be a good idea?

 

[Kathy Golla]

I'm wondering if it's something that has turned into a bacterial infection.
That's been there for six months.

 

[azygous]

Blu-kote or coconut oil or castor oil will all treat a bacterial infection or a fungal infection. Go with your hunch on whether you want to use Blu-kote first to dry it out. But I would use something on it. The oil will soften the black crust, and you might be able to pull it off.

Is this black stuff also on her nares on her beak? Or am I just seeing dirt?

 

[micstrachan]

Could that be a tumor? She looks pretty awesome for an 11-year-old chicken! I woukd love it if any of mine can live that long!