Newbie chicken owner questions: black spots on comb, normal chicken feet vs bumblefoot

[amama]

We got 15 Black Australorp pullets from craigslist when they were 5 months old, they looked healthy to me at the time and they are laying well, getting about 12-13 eggs a day.

However, one had a prolapsed vent, and they have horrible lice right now, which I think they had when I got them. I wasn't adding them to any existing flocks, or experienced to know how to look for the lice so I didn't check but a couple had messy bottoms (now more than half do) and they always seem to have very runny poo most of the time.

Anyways, now I'm paranoid about what else is going to go wrong, I've had to spend hours dealing with researching and treating the problems we've had so far, coop cleaning, etc.

1) Some of their combs have a small black dot at the tip of each comb point, if that made sense? Some had perfectly red smooth combs, but are the ones with dots a sign of another infection/problem? Some had them when I got them and I thought it was normal, but now I'm wondering if it's not.

2) I've never seen normal chicken feet but have read about bumblefoot, is it mostly just a scabby area, or can it just be a skin colored bump? Their feet don't have scabs, but on the bottom side, there is a circular bump that is the same color as their foot. Is that okay or should there not be a lump there?

If you need pictures, I'll have to try and catch them to take them next time I check on the lice. They weren't used to being handled at all, so it's quite a challenge to handle them.

Thank you for your help and patience

 

[arrowti]

1.) Did you have a cold winter? Chickens can get frostbite on their combs which can appear as black or white spots. It could also be dried blood if other chickens are pecking at their combs.

2.) If you don't see a scab or wound mark then you'll just want to keep an eye on it. It could be just a random thing - it's best not to open something that isn't opened, as that could cause an infection that would otherwise have been avoided.

 

[amama]

It was a more mild winter with super cold spells, and I think the spots are on the hens that are on the bottom of the pecking order, always getting pecked so it's probably that.

Ok, I'll keep an eye on their feet. Are normal feet smooth without a bump on the bottom though? There aren't any swollen parts on the front.

 

[arrowti]

Normal feet should be smooth, as far as I know. Are the chickens limping at all or holding their feet up as though in pain?

 

[amama]

No limping or holding feet up, they all jump fine onto their perch and run around outside after each other fine.

I'll see if I can get a kiddo to take pictures for me next time I catch them