Roo with black scabs on comb

[AtomicPenguin]

If I don't isolate him and my hens contract it are the eggs from them still safe for consumption?

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Mine went through fowl pox years ago and yes, the eggs are safe to eat.

 

[elmo]

If it's fowl pox (and that's what it looks like to me), isolating the rooster doesn't mean your hens won't get it, because the virus is transmitted by mosquito bites. The fowl pox scabs are infective, too, so that's why isolating the infected bird is recommended on the off chance that another bird might peck up a scab (yuck) and then come down with the "wet" form of pox...this is when the lesions form inside the trachea and/or esophagus. The dry form (when the lesions are only on the comb and wattles, sometimes the legs) is usually not serious and the bird recovers with no problem.

All my flock came down with it last fall, including our roo who developed the wet form, but all of them recovered. The virus is not contagious to humans and the eggs are safe to eat, but hens frequently quit laying while they're sick with fowl pox anyway.

 

[MandyH]

Fowl pox usually show up on the wattles and around the ears too. That pic you posted does NOT look like fowl pox, it looks like another chicken has been pecking on him. If by some chance it is fowl pox the other would show symptoms soon. No need to seperate if it is fowl pox and once they have it they never get it again.

 

[GardenerGal]

That looks like scabs from fights with other roosters, or mite bites. I think the former. My roosters always get those scabs and I know where they come from because I break up a lot of fights.

 

[AtomicPenguin]

He is the lone rooster so perhaps it is mites.

 

[GardenerGal]

Could be mites, for sure. Those nasty varmints are tiny, but the scabs they leave are bigger than the mites!

 

[dawg53]

Since he's the only rooster, I doubt the hens would be pecking on him. If it were mites, most likely they would infest around his vent area and not his comb...ease of access. All things considered, this is why I suspect fowl pox.

 

[AtomicPenguin]

Any way to know for sure? What should I look for?

 

[dawg53]

You need to pick up your rooster and visually inspect him for lice/mites...especially around the vent area. Check this out. http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html