Hen Getting Ready to Lay??

[New Chicken Lady]

Okay. So, y'all, I stink with technology and wanted to start a new thread but can't figure it out. Can the great peeps who've been on this thread I started plz help me? Am going to upload a pic in a second. One of my RIR's had a couple of hardish, black spots on her comb. Other than thaT she seems perfectly healthy. No change in behavior. She is eating, drinking, running around and foraging as usual. The lady I got her from said it may be "pox????!!!" I have no idea what that is or what I need to do if anything. I also want to make sure her eggs are still okay to eat. Can any of u guys help me with this??????

 

[sharkerbaby]

Sorry I'm unable to help re: the dark spots on your girl's comb but since it doesn't look like you've gotten an answer thought I'd provide some guidance on posting your inquiry in a new thread... I'd suggest posting in the emergency/pests/injuries forum someone is almost always there to help out. As far as how to post a new thread, once you get into the forum, towards the top of the page there is a button labeled "Post a new thread" (or something similar), simply click that and a new window will open allowing you to post your question.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I saw the pics, but didn't see a question... sorry. I don't know much about it, but have heard frostbite can turn combs or wattles black, but I don't think you're having freezing weather yet.

It's likely from little scratches from poking around under bushes or brushing up against hardware cloth on the pen or something like that. A couple of mine have a few tiny specks too.

 

[aart]

Okay. So, y'all, I stink with technology and wanted to start a new thread but can't figure it out. Can the great peeps who've been on this thread I started plz help me? Am going to upload a pic in a second. One of my RIR's had a couple of hardish, black spots on her comb. Other than thaT she seems perfectly healthy. No change in behavior. She is eating, drinking, running around and foraging as usual. The lady I got her from said it may be "pox????!!!" I have no idea what that is or what I need to do if anything. I also want to make sure her eggs are still okay to eat. Can any of u guys help me with this??????

Yes, it looks like it could be 'dry fowl pox'....which is a virus spread by mosquito.
There's not much to do about it, it doesn't really cause any harm and will pass with time.

It could also be dried blood from an injury. Dried blood will wash off, fowl pox will not.

Either way, eggs are fine to eat.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I dunno... looking at pics of dry fowl pox and it doesn't look the same. The dry fowl pox lesions look raised like a wart. Normal abrasions/scratches don't. The dark spots on New Chicken Lady's bird don't look so significant. But, being a newbie I could be wrong.

Here are some links to fowl pox info:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/dry-and-wet-fowl-pox.1197636/page-4
http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=5&p=35
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-experience-with-dry-fowl-pox.1178597/#post-18571202
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/advice-needed-spots-or-pox.1201687/#post-19034451

 

[aart]

I dunno... looking at pics of dry fowl pox and it doesn't look the same. The dry fowl pox lesions look raised like a wart. Normal abrasions/scratches don't. The dark spots on New Chicken Lady's bird don't look so significant. But, being a newbie I could be wrong.

Here are some links to fowl pox info:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/dry-and-wet-fowl-pox.1197636/page-4
http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=5&p=35
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-experience-with-dry-fowl-pox.1178597/#post-18571202
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/advice-needed-spots-or-pox.1201687/#post-19034451

They can be flat too, especially in mild or new eruptions.
.....and New Chicken Lady's pics are not very clear.

 

[New Chicken Lady]

Thanks for the replies. The spots are raised a bit and I've tried wiping them off - but they don't budge. Thx, AART for the info. I think it's external pox too and have read and heard from chicken lady exactly the same that you shared. The eggs are fine and it just has to run its course. Had no idea they could get this from mosquitoes. Nasty beasts!! Other than the spots on her comb, she seems perfectly healthy. - laying every day, eating and drinking as usual. I read that once they have them, they build up an immunity and don't get them again. I live in Georgia and the mosquitoes have been awful this year. Feel fairly certain that is what has caused it. Am happy she is otherwise well and still laying. It's so funny - my first post on this thread was about me worrying when she would lay. She and her sister have taken off just one day and have laid two pretty brown eggs every day since then. Those RIR's are freaking troopers, laying machines. So happy with them !!

 

[aart]

I read that once they have them, they build up an immunity and don't get them again.

Not sure about the immunity...have had them here but don't give it much mind so have not tracked any reinfection incidences. Mosquitoes here this year were almost non-existent...was dry and cool.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Thanks Aart! Is there any way of preventing this other than mosquito control? We were very lucky to not have many mosquitoes this year, but last year was awful.

 

[aart]

Is there any way of preventing this other than mosquito control?

Not that I know of.