Need Help Addressing My Buff Orpington's Black Comb

[chickens really]

He appears to have a very large comb......The blood is not flowing to the ends of his comb for what ever reason...Some people do cut back the combs on Roosters...Or Cull them.....

Best of luck...

Cheers!

As I already posted.....Not Frostbite........



Cheers!

 

[Isaac 0]

i know its not frostbite.I may be wrong but im pretty sure lack of circulation in the comb makes it turn purple.

 

[chickens really]

i know its not frostbite.I may be wrong but im pretty sure lack of circulation in the comb makes it turn purple.

That is usually due to a heart problem......Anyways, it sounds like the blood supply is not getting to the ends of the Comb...?

What do I know.....?.....lol



Cheers!

 

[azygous]

This is a genuine mystery. I researched dry fowl pox and the patterns are not evenly distributed as this rooster is showing. But I won't rule out dry pox.

Since this condition began back in summer, I would suspect he has a blood circulation problem to his extremities. It might even make him more vulnerable to frostbite in winter because of it.

Not that this is frostbite. It just doesn't show the progression frostbite goes through, blistering, discoloration, black and crispy on the damaged points. And this guy hasn't seemed to have lost any of his points yet, either.

I vote for circulation problems along with the last few posters.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not being argumentative with others, just trying to be helpful, and hopefully not to offend. Here is a blown up version of the OP's rooster below. Note the frostbite on the wattles. Frostbite looks very different in all cases. Just looking at several threads and pictures, one can see many different types. Here are some good links to read about and look at frostbite:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/12/frostbit-in-backyard-chickens-causes.html
http://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/backyard-chickens-frostbite.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/446630/who-has-roosters-with-frostbite

 

[Isaac 0]

But he got it in the summer where coldness would not be a problem.I agree with @chickens really and @azygous on this one.

 

[chickens really]

But he got it in the summer where coldness would not be a problem.I agree with @chickens really and @azygous on this one.

Thanks, this is one area I do know..........Not frostbite, it is possibly as I stated.......


Cheers!

 

[KalChickenCrew]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. To answer some of the questions I saw:
1. His comb length is the same as it has always been. It doesn't appear to be any shorter or have different tips than before.

2. We don't have an exceptionally bad problem with mosquitos where we live, no. We definitely have them, but they weren't particularly bad this summer.

3. Let me clarify, this has happened multiple times, it hasn't just been one long period of his comb being black. I would say this is the 3rd time his comb has turned black. I occurred twice during the summer and just started back up again about a week ago. Every time is has eventually just gone away on its own.

Obviously I have no idea what it is and that's why I came here! But what I do know, is that even if THIS time it's frostbite, the other two times this has occurred, it could not have been frostbite due to the fact that the first two times were in the summer when it was 80-90 during the day and only as low as 70 at night

 

[azygous]

Thanks for coming back and answering the questions we've had. I think the consensus is that it is not frostbite.

Here's what I think, and it's not a diagnosis. From examining the photos you posted and seeing all the tiny, little "warts" underlying the black, it sure looks like something my roosters have had in the past, although not anywhere near the extent of your boy's.

When I would scrape one of the black "warts", it would ooze a tiny bit of blood. Have you tried scraping a bit of those bumps to see what would happen?

I treated my roosters' black spots with Blu-kote, and they disappeared inside of a week. I doubt it's fowl pox, but if it is, it's very mild and dry fowl pox does usually clear up on its own. That you say this roo has had this condition before and it's spontaneously cleared up leads me to believe this is what may be going on.

I've spent a lot of time researching fowl pox, looking at pictures and no where did I see anything like what your rooster has. I think that's a very good thing. Wet fowl pox is a hideous think and can kill.

I recommend you try the Blu-kote on his comb. If it clears it right up, then we know it's just harmless black warts, and I sure would love to know what they're really called if anyone knows.

By the way, you said he's hard to handle. Wait until he roosts, and after it gets dark, grab him off his perch with a towel wrapped around his wings very snugly, and you will be able to totally have your way with the bratty boy.

 

[KalChickenCrew]

@azygous Thank you for your helpful insight! I have not tried scraping at them just because I can't get close unless there's a fence between us, but I will try tonight to go out there and catch him off guard!