Comb Problems

[Dazzalino]

Hello,

I'm wondering if this is normal? MyAustralirps comb looks like it's getting white on the tips. She seems fine otherwise. I recently lost a supposedly vaccinated hen to Mareks so I'm a little sensitive. What do you think?

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be dry skin. Coconut oil is good for that. Fungal infections such as favus can cause white chalky deposits on combs and wattles, and those can be treated with Lotrimin (clostrimazole) or Monsitat 7 (miconazole) but it looks more like dry skin with a few peck marks.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have also seen this when combs have been pecked and have black areas from blood, that eventually look white when they are healing.

 

[Dazzalino]

Thank you! I will try the coconut oil and see if that helps. It does kind of look dry and maybe pecked at. Phew.

 

[sara1226]

She looks very healthy otherwise. When I lost chickens to Mareks the combs and faces became more pale in color. Your pretty little chicken seems to have a nice red face. I too think coconut oil will help.

 

[Dazzalino]

Thanks! I've been a chicken owner for just a year so all the diseases are new to me. I had a chicken go broody yesterday on top of it all! The chicken I just lost to Mareks was pale for a while then got really red again, and then had leg paralysis. I think she had a heart attack in the end. She was of course my favorite girl. This was my Suzie Q.

 

[Eggcessive]

You will learn a lot fast just by reading the forums here on BYC at the. My interest is in the emergency thread to learn about illnesses and treatment, but there are all categories where you can pick up tips. The learning center is also good for learning about incubation, chick raising, broodiness and how to break them. Here is a good link about common diseases with symptoms, and a link to the Forum page:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/