pox?

[kiloecho]

Our EE cockerel has black spots on his comb. It has not been cold enough to get frost bite yet. We read pox can be spread by mosquitos - we had a ton in our yard this year. None of our hens have any problems.
He seems to be feeling fine - eating, moving, breathing, crowing fine.

What can we do to treat this? Is it even treatable?

Thanks!

 

[jenjscott]

If it is pox, and if it is confined to the "dry pox" lesions on his skin, you only need to watch for secondary infection. I've never had any deaths from dry pox. It is slow moving, and usually goes through the flock. Vaccination is available but in a small backyard flock probably not necessary. If it involves lesions in the airway, it becomes a totally different problem, with a high mortality. Many time black spots can also be bites, from insects or fighting.