Comb bleeding or staining neck in the rain?

[cntrygrl40]

It's happened twice now when it's raining. There appears to be blood or a red stain on the back of our only rooster's white neck the past two times it's rained (not any other time). I can't imagine the comb color is running - that's just silly. I couldn't see any injury and the "blood" doesn't turn brown though, and by the morning it was gone. It's closer to the color of the comb than to blood. We have no other roosters and he's really quite the gentleman to his ladies. Can't imagine what it could be? Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[canada-goose]

No idea. That's very strange.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

can you post pics? This is very strange indeed!

 

[cntrygrl40]

I'll have to wait till it rains again, but I will try and get a photo. It goes from the base of the back of his comb and then it looks like it's run down the back of his neck almost to the base of his neck. He seems fine though...go figure.

 

[Aprilrn2000]

That is so wierd...I just noticed today my on my white leghorn roo that exact same thing. I don't know what in the world it is. But if any one knows please let us know. It is dark now but I will try to take a pic in the am and post it. Looks almost like paint on his feathers around the top of his neck. I do have other roo's but he is boss most of the time so I can't imagine that it is from one of them. I also didnt see any wounds or any thing.

 

[Puck-Puck]

Just an idea...without seeing a picture this could be totally out to lunch, but: any possibility the rain is slicking down the feathers and causing them to part, revealing red skin on the neck? Some birds have red head skin under their feathers. The comb would make a natural parting place.

 

[silkiechicken]

Also, since it is the season where they start to moult, could this fleshy colored feather thing be possibly the blood feather/pin feather shafts being exposed when the fluffy feather part of the feathers get matted down in the rain? In white feathered birds, the pin feathers are pinkish, while in darker colored birds, the pin feathers are often brown/black.

 

[cntrygrl40]

Well, I'm glad to hear it's not just mine. No, it's not the skin - I did look closely to check if it was when I first saw it. Plus, I looked at him today and there is still a little red at the base of his neck - as if the rest washed off. He is white (Cornish Rock), though I can't imagine the feathers becoming transparent when wet. Stuck together and showing skin yes, but they weren't that clumped together. Oh, and if it makes any difference he's going on 6 months old.

 

[cntrygrl40]

Apriln2000 is right...it looks like paint or dye...it's almost a cream red.

 

[cntrygrl40]

As for molting and pin feathers, I don't think he's quite done growing them out yet. So I'm not sure if he would have those yet. He does have red skin, but the white feathers are turning red.