Should I be worried about these black marks?

[ralleman]

I picked two birds up from a breeder who was keeping his birds in completely squalid conditions - a very muddy cage with a tarp roof. The chickens were filthy and I washed them both the following day. It didn't help much though.

The older pullet had a very rough looking comb and wattle. I assumed it was because of the squalid conditions it was living in and would start looking healthy as a result of living in better conditions. I thought I had better check with the experts though in case this is pox or something and I need to return it/them and keep them away from the other birds. Both birds are extremely nervous, the younger one less so, but both much more nervous than other birds I've purchased. I doubt I can let them out of the coop before they calm down but they're nowhere near that yet.

Here're the pics of the older pullet:

And the chick, which also has some black marks on its comb that I assumed was from pecking.

 

[ralleman]

Updated pic. Still no change on the black marks, but the scabs have settled.

 

[ralleman]

I have 4 birds and this one is the only sign of marks. The others are looking pretty healthy right now. It was getting quite badly pecked initially by the australorps, but I think I also inherited the bird with these marks, so it may have been getting attacked previously or it may have picked something up at the breeder's place.

 

[ralleman]

No biting from the hens, although the chick can get a bit bitey when I hand feed it!

 

[ralleman]

Update on this. The marks have gotten a little worse and there is a new scab on the comb of the chook, so I think this is confirmation of a disease and not pecking. The bird has been isolated for a week.

 

[ralleman]

Yes, she's fairly spritely, doesn't seem to be bothered about it at all. I've let her out in the yard for a bit to get some exercise and she's currently destroying my garden.

 

[ralleman]

Hi Wyorp Rock. Yes they've been separated by about 8 metres, but I allow the chooks to roam around during the day. They have been hanging around the isolation cage, but I've been keeping an eye on them and they're not pecking through the wire.

It seems likely to me that it's a disease, I'd just like to know what it is. If it's pox, then I won't cull the bird because it'll clear up.

I noticed today that it's pecking at its legs too, which suggests it may have some scaly leg mites on the rise. These have been really problematic in my previous flocks.

 

[ralleman]

Sydney. And yes they are, this is true.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If it's dry Fowl Pox, then is should resolve on it's own over the course of a few weeks.

 

[ralleman]

Worms?