Sore on comb

[Mheitor]

I noticed today that it seems one of my girls has a sore on her comb and on her waddle. It looks like a crusted over ulcer. I'm wondering if it could also be a wound from being pecked. But I haven't seem any of the other girls being aggressive with her. What can I do?

 

[QueenMisha]

Can you post a picture? It's hard to tell from description alone, although I would guess it's a scab, possibly one with a minor infection. Scabs on the comb/wattle are pretty common; they are large, fleshy protrusions with no protection from being banged into things, and of course, they are also a prime spot for a bird to peck at if it wants another out of its way. Worst case, it could be dry fowl pox, which would blow over the whole flock within a few weeks (anybody else with scabby combs?).

 

[Mheitor]

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[Mheitor]

 

[Mheitor]

I don't see it on the others yet but I google dry pox and it looks the beginning? O no.

 

[Eggcessive]

To me, it looks like she has been pecked. If it were pox, it looks very minor, so I wouldn't worry.

 

[Mheitor]

Thank you!. I went out and took a good look at my girls this morning while I gave them a special snack and I see white and black scab areas on one if my other girls. So I think they have the dry variety of fowl pox. I will keep a close eye on them. As I figure they all have been exposed and it will have to run its course now.

 

[Eggcessive]

You're welcome. Looking back at your first picture there looks like a scab on the left lower eye lid, so keep an eye on it for infection. Terramycin eye ointment or Vetericyn Eye gel can be useful to help prevent eye infections. Here is some good info with pictures about pox if you haven't seen them:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/avian-pox-how-to-treat-your-chickens-for-avian-pox
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/195/fowl-pox/
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/poultry/fowlpox/fowlpox_in_chickens_and_turkeys.html

 

[QueenMisha]

That's a typical pecking/banged up sore. It should heal in a week or two. If it is pox, you'll see more and more scabs appear through the flock, and they should disappear within around 4-6 weeks. (Dry fowl pox is extremely mild, as contagious diseases go).

 

[QueenBubbles]

One of my hens got dry fowl pox last month. I though it would go thru whole flock, too, but it just got the picky eater and a few spots on the bottom hen. I give my girls onions and spinach in addition to regular food. When I started making Penny, the picky eater, eat some onions and added Braggs's ACV to one of the waterers, it stopped progressing and then got better. It had been spreading to her face and I didn't want it to get in her eyes or turn wet. There are some scary pox pictures when you start looking.
I don't know that the onions made that much of a diff, but the hens that regularly scarf them up didn't get it. Mine don't like garlic, which is another thing to add to help.
I also gave them her eggs even tho it is safe to eat for humans, I figured they could all use the extra nutrition.
NutriDrench in one of the waterers would also help support their immune systems while they fight the pox.