Lethargic chicken with black comb

[bkrupke]

​

Can someone help me identify what's wrong with my hen. She isn't laying or grooming and is lethargic. She does eat a little but also has all this black on her comb. I currently have her separated.

 

[Yowza Wowza]

How long has she had a black comb? Did you just notice?
To help with the Lethargic I suggest electrolytes in her water it's an antibiotic that should help. Also, the black comb could be mites. They are called Northern Foul mites, discomfort and anaemia along with scabby skin are the hallmarks of these mites. The feathers are also affected at the base where they grow, and can look as though they have been chewed at. These mites, unlike red mite, are rare, but are almost impossible to get rid of. Again, the housing needs to be treated as well as the chickens, but often it is better to burn the housing and purchase a new one if these mites do take up residence.

 

[bkrupke]

I started noticing the black a few days ago after we had a very cold and thought it was frost bite . She is my only hen out of 8 that is affected.
When she started acting funny I separated her.
Burn the structure? Yikes. Any possibility it's not mites? How do I check?

 

[Yowza Wowza]

I started noticing the black a few days ago after we had a very cold and thought it was frost bite . She is my only hen out of 8 that is affected.
When she started acting funny I separated her.
Burn the structure? Yikes. Any possibility it's not mites? How do I check?

Ah.
Yes, unless the other hens contract it, then it's best to burn the structure.
As I stated before, you can check their feathers, for the feathers are also affected at the base where they grow, and can look as though they have been chewed at. Well, any case that has a black comb, usually leads to mites, they are most know for that. Do you clean their coop/ home often?

 

[bkrupke]

I just did a huge deep cleaning 2 weeks ago, pulled everything out of the coop and put in all fresh shavings. I just inspected the sick hen (Lucy) and there isn't any sign of issues on her skin or at the base of the feathers. Her tail feathers are hanging down but that's about it.