HELP requested. Weird clusters on pullet's comb: Pix Included

[TexasJoe]

These spots developed quickly over the last few days. My W.Leghorn pullet has a huge comb, and she seems to have the worst of it. I will take more pictures in the morning, I just noticed it tonight when i was putting them to sleep. From the clusters, I would assume it's mites. Tomorrow, I will check the infected birds over fully and try to seperate them for a few days. Any clues?

Note: I have been fending off the chicken cage from racoons, opossums, and feral cats..could they have brought this to them? They have been quite healthy and mite free since day 1. I was EXTREMELY surprised to see how quickly this developed.

 

[chickmamawannabe]

Looks like it might be fowl pox. Can't tell you much about it, but if you do a search, you should be able to find out some info on it.

 

[mypicklebird]

looks like fowl pox pustules, they will scab over and turn black soon. lots of info about it, it is insect transmitted, no treatment, will go away by itself and your birds will be immune. not contagious to you.

 

[mainchick]

yep, i was gonna say fowl pox too!

 

[TexasJoe]

thanks for all the help. I'm kicking myself as I type. My pool harbors mosquitos in the "off season". I even bought some pellets to put in the pool to keep the mosquitos from breeding but they are lost in my room somewhere . Prepared but overwhelmed.

I definitely feel like I've let them down, not a single mite up until this outbreak

 

[Poohbear]

Joe, Mosquitos cause fowl pox. It will last 6 to 10 weeks and go away. A dab of black shoe polish on each nodule will help but DON"T scrape them. They will spread on the birds face like staph infection does on humans. Wild birds are usually the carriers of mites to a chicken yard.

 

[TexasJoe]

Thanks for everyone's help. It appears to be the "dry" form of the pox (thankfully). It doesn't appear to be affecting 7 of the 11 birds...and my cochins in the cage next to it appear fine. It is visbible on all 3 of my W. Leghorns, and to a lesser extent on a RIR (the one's with the largest combs/wattles, coincidence? are these the spots that mosquitos typcical bite?)