Flock developing black spots on their combs

[Fishsticks06]

I brought home 3 rescue chickens the day after Easter from an overcrowding situation. They’re all in a quarantine pen right now, and have their own coop to sleep in too. My whole flock has began to develop these black spots on their combs right after I brought them home. They’re already on a dewormer, their combs are healthy and their behavior hasn’t changed. I can’t find any symptoms of mites/lice, thoughts? Here’s what it looks like on my most affected hen.

 

[Ebony Rose]

The black coloring is scab tissue.

How's your mosquito situation right now? [Dry Fowl Pox can be contracted by your flock from mosquito bites and is quite contagious, fortunately the dry version of the Pox is considered benign.] If mosquitos are an issue in your area, this is the likely culprit, just keep an eye out for discharge at the nares or bubbly eyes [Wet Fowl Pox is very contagious and often fatal].

or

Any changes in the flock dynamics lately? (Birds added, or removed?) Pecking order must always be reestablished if birds come into, or leave the flock. Depending upon your flock's temperament, things can get rough.

Edit to add: This came to mind as I was looking at the picture again, and noticed that all of her damage is on the front end of the comb. Fencing or some types of feeders can cause this sort of damage to the front end of the comb.

 

[TOPChickens14]

Disclaimer: I am by no means a chicken expert at all. I have quite a few chickens though and I have experience with this symptom.

First off. Are you seeing any other disease symptoms? Diarrhea? Any fluid coming from their nostrils or are they sneezing?

I have had this many times. It usually is a result of minor fighting within your flock. Those black spots are actually dark dark red and they are a scab/dried blood. It goes away on its own and it's nothing to worry about. Just make sure your birds are fighting too much. When another chicken pecks the other one's comb, it may bleed. This will scab over and dry. That's just what those spots are.

If you see any other symptoms or if this gets a lot worse I would consider doing more research into other possible causes.

 

[Fishsticks06]

The black coloring is scab tissue.

How's your mosquito situation right now? [Dry Fowl Pox can be contracted by your flock from mosquito bites and is quite contagious, fortunately the dry version of the Pox is considered benign.] If mosquitos are an issue in your area, this is the likely culprit, just keep an eye out for discharge at the nares or bubbly eyes [Wet Fowl Pox is very contagious and often fatal].

or

Any changes in the flock dynamics lately? (Birds added, or removed?) Pecking order must always be reestablished if birds come into, or leave the flock. Depending upon your flock's temperament, things can get rough.

Edit to add: This came to mind as I was looking at the picture again, and noticed that all of her damage is on the front end of the comb. Fencing or some types of feeders can cause this sort of damage to the front end of the comb.

Thank you so much,

We have really bad mosquitos right now. I was bit several times when I was outside, and I guess the high influx of mosquitos attracted bats to roost in the columns of my buildings. We need to relocate them after temperatures begin to become more tolerable for the outside.

Flock dynamics have not changed (yet), a lot my chickens have some sort of darkening of the comb. I think it’s spread amongst my flock, as they have had no comb issues before the arrival of these new birds.

Edit: forgot to answer your first question! None of my current hens have apparent illness. I do have one old hen who I’m tube feeding as she doesn’t eat enough independently, but she’s been in her frail state since the beginning of the year. One of the new hens had bad vent gleet, but she’s on a road to recovery.

 

[Kiki]

I brought home 3 rescue chickens the day after Easter from an overcrowding situation. They’re all in a quarantine pen right now, and have their own coop to sleep in too. My whole flock has began to develop these black spots on their combs right after I brought them home. They’re already on a dewormer, their combs are healthy and their behavior hasn’t changed. I can’t find any symptoms of mites/lice, thoughts? Here’s what it looks like on my most affected hen.

That looks like fighting scabs.

What exactly are you using to deworm your flock right now?

 

[Fishsticks06]

That looks like fighting scabs.

What exactly are you using to deworm your flock right now?

Thanks!
They're seeming to go away, but I'm using Panacur to deworm them.

 

[TOPChickens14]

Thanks!
They're seeming to go away, but I'm using Panacur to deworm them.

Great!