Cockerel with scabs or black dots on crest?? What to do?

[Loverexnchicks]

I noticed he had so many black looking dots this morning while feeding the flock. I can’t tell if it’s an infection or disease or if he’s just get bullied by the others. I showed my father and he said it might be smallpox?? The cockerel is isolating himself and staying away from the rest of the flock and looks generally sad. My other cockerel also got 2 similar dots on his crest. What do I do?? They look like scabs but I’m just not sure. This is my first time keeping chickens.

 

[GracePoultry]

Do you have a rooster that maybe he could be fighting with?
Sometimes hens are bullies. I would separate him out incase he is sick. It is possible it's a very minor/early case of dry fowl pox.

I really hope he can get better

 

[Loverexnchicks]

Do you have a rooster that maybe he could be fighting with?
Sometimes hens are bullies. I would separate him out incase he is sick. It is possible it's a very minor/early case of dry fowl pox.

I really hope he can get better

It’s him and my other cockerel, but I’ve never seen them fight. They seem to be fine with each other and when I grabbed to check him, my other cockerel even came to see if he was fine and hunt out with him when he was isolating himself. If it’s a case of bullying, my main suspect would be my gray hen, but she only pecks others when they try to eat her food. I really hope it’s not dry fowl pox!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I noticed he had so many black looking dots this morning while feeding the flock. I can’t tell if it’s an infection or disease or if he’s just get bullied by the others. I showed my father and he said it might be smallpox?? The cockerel is isolating himself and staying away from the rest of the flock and looks generally sad. My other cockerel also got 2 similar dots on his crest. What do I do?? They look like scabs but I’m just not sure. This is my first time keeping chickens.

Those are scabs from pecking. Very common.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I agree, They look like scabs to me.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My other cockerel also got 2 similar dots on his crest.

For informational purposes.. the body part we're talking about here is called a comb. Crests are feathers on top of their heads like Silkies and Polish.

 

[orelsi]

You don't have to do anything about the scabs. Either the two cockerels are figuring out which one is higher on the pecking order or the older hens are giving then behavior lessons. You should intervene only if there's constant bullying and/or a lot of bleeding. You can isolate the bird that's getting beaten up or isolate the aggressive one, either works. If there's bleeding you can put some antibiotic cream on it, but the scabs in your pics don't need anything, they'll heal on their own. You should get used to seeing them on combs and wattles.