Rooster with black stripe on comb?!?

[Kristen D]

Hello, it's been very cold here lately. My head rooster has a black/purple line in the middle of his comb (following the arch). I am worried about this. Does anybody know what this can be? I will get a picture as soon as I can, but any help would be appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is mild frostbite, I am pretty sure. I wouldn’t handle the comb or do anything. Frostbite can take a few days to know how bad it might be. I have had some mild cases look normal later, and since his comb is red above the line, he may be okay. Comb tips with bad frostbite usually become rounded off after several weeks and heal on their own. Many of us in freezing winter climates see this in January and Feb.

 

[Eggcessive]

Just Google frostbite in chickens, look at images, and you will note that roosters may typically get that line. Sometimes the upper part will look white at first, then brown or black later. The OP’s rooster doesn’t look too bad at this time, but I might be wrong.

 

[BantyChooks]

Should I bring him in?

I wouldn't. Even if you save the comb he just gets to go through it again next year.

It won't kill him.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would agree. Do you have a thermometer in your coop? I have a heat source in my coop right now just to keep the temps in the teens, since we have had subzero temps at night here this week. Many people don’t use heat at all unless it gets 20 below, but I take the chance. It is a personal choice for me, and any heat source can cause a fire. If you do bring him inside to a warmer spot, try to keep him in a cool spot, so that he won’t have such a drastic change when he goes back outside. I would put him back out immediately in the mornings, so that he can tolerate the cold.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I really don't know. I had a roo who used to get dark spots on the tips of his comb when it was really hot here. It was transient, so I was never really concerned. Sorry, perhaps someone more knowedgable will be able to give you answers. @casportpony ? Thanks

 

[Ursuline Chick]

That is mild frostbite, I am pretty sure. I wouldn’t handle the comb or do anything. Frostbite can take a few days to know how bad it might be. I have had some mild cases look normal later, and since his comb is red above the line, he may be okay. Comb tips with bad frostbite usually become rounded off after several weeks and heal on their own. Many of us in freezing winter climates see this in January and Feb.

Sorry I didn't think of you, will call on you for cold related problems in the future. Thank you on behalf of OP.

 

[BantyChooks]

Frostbite... I am not sure what causes the comb to have only a line of dark tissue but I have seen it a few times.

 

[Lawale]

View attachment 1226685 Hello, it's been very cold here lately. My head rooster has a black/purple line in the middle of his comb (following the arch). I am worried about this. Does anybody know what this can be? I will get a picture as soon as I can, but any help would be appreciated.

How did your roo heal up from this? My guy just got a similar line on his comb in our cold snap

 

[lazy gardener]

Pic?