Infected Comb?

[ChickenPeep]

Hi all,

My silver laced Wyandotte, Willow, has been acting differently lately. She’s at the bottom of the pecking order in my flock and gets picked on from time to time. But recently she’s had a wound on her comb that seems to be getting worse. I’ve separated her from the others but it still hasn’t cleared up. I’m not sure how long it’s been there, maybe a week or so. Recently she’s been much less active and just sits around which is really unusual for her. I think she has an infection. What can I do for her besides antibiotic creams?

And and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Also: her comb looks a little gooey/wet in these pictures because of an antibiotic cream.

 

[Eggcessive]

Other than fowl pox or a peck wound, I don’t know of any comb problem that would make a sore and make her sick. She may be low in pecking order and picked on or kept from feed, which could make her weak. One there is a peck wound sometimes the others will keep pecking on the wound.

I would think about getting a fecal float test by your local vet for worms and coccidiosis, just to make sure that she is healthy and has no parasites. Then watch how the others treat her. Most comb wounds do not need ointments or anything else to dry up. I cannot tell a whole lot from the pics because of the ointment. I would get her back into the flock, and observe their behavior. Sometimes just sitting in a lawn chair as they free range can give some clues as to what is going on.

 

[Chickassan]

How is her laying? And how old is she? Have you checked her for external parasites? Sorry for all the questions but her posture in the pics does not look the best.

 

[ChickenPeep]

Thank you @Eggcessive and @Chickassan for your responses. I would like to reintroduce her to the flock but all she wants to do is sit around and sleep. She has not laid in a while but she’s always been very inconsistent. I haven’t checked for parasites. What would be a good way to do this other than going to the vet?

I am going to try and start giving her electrolytes so she’ll hopefully perk up a little. She’s not very interested in eating or drinking.

Also @Eggcessive you mentioned that there arent many comb conditions that would make her this sick, but is it possible she’s just gotten an infection that is making her sick?

 

[Eggcessive]

She could be sick or just low in the pecking order. You can try taking some fresh droppings to a local vet (call ahead) or here is a company that sells kit (I haven’t used this)
https://www.statelinetack.com/item/...ce^t-plaid^343888087406-sku^446563-adType^PLA

 

[micstrachan]

How does her breast feel? Is she losing muscle? How well is she eating? Being low in the pecking order, she may be bullied off feed. You keep extra food containers around so everybody can eat? I am commented that, it helps those low in the pecking order get their share.

 

[Shezadandy]

Have you checked her abdomen? Is it swollen or fluid-filled feeling? How does her vent look? Clean and clear or does she have a bunch of stuff stuck to it? If there's a bunch of stuff- slowly soften it up with a warm Epsom salt bath and see if you find any external parasite - or the leavings of an egg that broke inside her ---

I agree that nothing on that comb would suggest infection related to the injury there.
Could be she's got ascities or is suffering from egg yolk peritonitis - (EYP) - I say that because of her limited movement.

 

[ChickenPeep]

Her breast is rather prominent and the is fairly thin. No swollen abdomen, vent looks fine. Except she has had problems with runny droppings that get stuck to her rear fluff (sorry, kinda gross). Recently her droppings have been very watery since she hasn't been eating much.

My sister recently told me that she believes that she had a strange-looking spot on her comb before the other chickens picked at it. If that's the case, that could be a game-changer.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Do you clean it before applying medications?? I use betadine. Clean it let it dry then apply topical antibiotics. If it’s infected it will need to drain. Debre it daily until the infection clears then allow it to scab over. Add some vinegar with the “mother” in it to her water. I’d keep her away from others that would peck her wound (and they will). A pen within the pen so she can be out with others but still be safe. That’s my advice. It doesn’t look too bad in the photo’s. Just keep on top of it before it becomes worse.

 

[Eggcessive]

Feel her crop and then check it in early morning before she has eaten and drunk any water to see if her crop is mostly flat and empty. Crop problems—impacted, sour, or pendulous crop can make them ill, lose weight, and they can starve due to nutrients not getting through to the gizzard for digestion. Crop problems can sometimes be a result of illness elsewhere, such as with reproductive disorders. I have lost a few hens to both problems.