Still no idea what’s going on with my hens comb and growing black spots

[Laurasb65]

I used a “horse fly spray” from Tractor Supply for the mite/lice spray. She had the scabs before I used the spray and they have t changed since using the spray. I actually noticed the couple of potential lice when I was treating the scabs.

She had never been treated for mites or lice before- she’s only 8 months old and I am sure I’ve never sprayed her before the other day (after the scabs)

I cannot tell what’s under the scabs, they are so thick and dry and adhered tightly to her skin.


I am not sure when scabs under her vent began- they were covered with feathers and I only discovered them recently when treating her for the comb and wattles scabs.

On her comb, the first sign of scabbing began as a few small spots about 4-6 weeks ago. I assumed they were peck marks. They got worse about 2-3 weeks ago but still not very alarming, she still looked mostly normal with a few spots on her comb and wattles and since everyone else was ok I didn’t think anything of it at the time. They then rapidly spread/progressed on her comb and wattles.

But I am totally unsure when her vent and crop area began developing scabs. On her crop there are just a few that are smaller but are brown with a yellow ring around them.

Under her vent they are extremely thick and heavy, the area feels full. I initially thought there might be an egg there but it’s been a week and she hasn’t laid in that whole week.

I will go out and try to get updated photos now.

the rest of the flock still has no signs of lesions.

So sorry she’s going through this. Hopefully she'll get better soon.

 

[Randomlyassigned]

If you can, get some more photos of the what the scabs look like now.

Let me ask you something, I'm just asking questions, no accusations. I'm on a hunt here to see if there's a correlation between the scabs and the use of Permethrin. Just speculation on my part, I *think* I have seen similar in other older threads but need to track them down to see if the rabbit hole leads to anything.

Did you spray her with Permethrin or dip her?
What product did you use and if it needed to be diluted, what dilution did you use?
Did the scabs on her backside appear before or after treating with the Permethrin?
Any chance she was treated way back with Permethrin, then the first scabs on her comb/wattles appeared?
If you can give remember the timeline of the first scabs to now and what, if any treatment you administered may be helpful.

Let's see the photos. Soaking may help, it's hard to know. I'm thinking that she may need bathed in a dandruff type shampoo (the scabs) but can't say for sure as of yet. Can you tell if there's pus under the scabs?

Of course Kim (@Eggcessive ) may have better suggestions than me!

I know it's asking a lot and take your time getting the info. I still need to do some reading/research. I may be on the wrong track all together.

I agree with you on treating like Sour Crop.

Were the crop contents she spit up foul smelling? Did you possibly accidentally press on the crop when you picked her up? Her scabs look pretty awful. Is she separated or with other chickens, and is she rubbing her skin on any fence wire? Could you try to get some 10% povidone iodine or Betadine to paint the scabs on her face, comb, and wattles? Walmart has a good buy with it called Equate First Aid Antiseptic for under $7:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-F...MIuIHmkNeSjwMVf2FHAR3aLQuyEAQYASABEgIM9_D_BwE

I used iodine twice a day for about a week and didn’t see any improvement - I switched to silver honey yesterday in hopes it would help. I did end up giving her a soak and found more scabs at the base of her tail as well, the scabs also look less reddish brown after soaking- I think the color was mostly from the iodine.

They are quite bad though and tend to have a cheesy yellow color with odd texture around them

 

[Eggcessive]

Was it 10% or less povidone iodine? Anything stronger can burn if not diluted. Is she separated or could the others be pecking her scabs.

 

[Randomlyassigned]

Was it 10% or less povidone iodine? Anything stronger can burn if not diluted. Is she separated or could the others be pecking her scabs.

It was 10% providine iodine- Rexall brand. And I also had triple antibiotic I was applying daily as well.

She isn’t separated from the flock - I am hesitant to separate because I don’t have a great option for isolation and she’s very attached to the rooster and one other hen in the flock. But I am outside watching them at least every 2 hours- the others don’t seem to be pecking at her scabs at all, but she definitely seems to preen/mess with them a lot. I was hoping the silver honey would discourage that. She doesn’t rub up against the wire at all.

She’s drinking a lot- her crop sounds like a water balloon. But I’m not sure if the fluid had a smell- I didn’t notice and it was just a little bit. I definitely could have put pressure on it when I picked her up though.

I am still completely stumped on what could be causing all of this and at a loss for how to help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I did end up giving her a soak and found more scabs at the base of her tail as well, the scabs also look less reddish brown after soaking- I think the color was mostly from the iodine.

They are quite bad though and tend to have a cheesy yellow color with odd texture around them

I used a “horse fly spray” from Tractor Supply for the mite/lice spray. She had the scabs before I used the spray and they have t changed since using the spray. I actually noticed the couple of potential lice when I was treating the scabs.

She had never been treated for mites or lice before- she’s only 8 months old and I am sure I’ve never sprayed her before the other day (after the scabs)

I cannot tell what’s under the scabs, they are so thick and dry and adhered tightly to her skin.


I am not sure when scabs under her vent began- they were covered with feathers and I only discovered them recently when treating her for the comb and wattles scabs.

On her comb, the first sign of scabbing began as a few small spots about 4-6 weeks ago. I assumed they were peck marks. They got worse about 2-3 weeks ago but still not very alarming, she still looked mostly normal with a few spots on her comb and wattles and since everyone else was ok I didn’t think anything of it at the time. They then rapidly spread/progressed on her comb and wattles.

But I am totally unsure when her vent and crop area began developing scabs. On her crop there are just a few that are smaller but are brown with a yellow ring around them.

Under her vent they are extremely thick and heavy, the area feels full. I initially thought there might be an egg there but it’s been a week and she hasn’t laid in that whole week.

I will go out and try to get updated photos now.

the rest of the flock still has no signs of lesions.

Thank you for the photos and additional information.

OK, so the Permethrin was used after the fact, so no correlation here in your situation. Which is good in way, we can rule it out!
Sorry! I ask lots of questions, it may drive some people (like my Husband) a little nuts, I tend to mull over things quite a bit.

OK. So I still think it may be Fowl Pox as everyone else does too, but will continue to explore and let myself mull for a while longer.

IF this is Fowl Pox, then you want the lesions to dry up. I know you were applying Povidone Iodine, but was triple antibiotic ointment also applied? That would keep lesions more coated, so I wonder if you just use the Iodine with nothing else for a few days if the lesions/scabs will dry and begin to fall off.

I'm sure she's uncomfortable.

The crop. Have you looked inside the beak just to make sure there's no lesions or yellow pasty material?
If it's squishy in the mornings, then treating as sour is a good idea.

 

[Randomlyassigned]

Thank you for the photos and additional information.

OK, so the Permethrin was used after the fact, so no correlation here in your situation. Which is good in way, we can rule it out!
Sorry! I ask lots of questions, it may drive some people (like my Husband) a little nuts, I tend to mull over things quite a bit.

OK. So I still think it may be Fowl Pox as everyone else does too, but will continue to explore and let myself mull for a while longer.

IF this is Fowl Pox, then you want the lesions to dry up. I know you were applying Povidone Iodine, but was triple antibiotic ointment also applied? That would keep lesions more coated, so I wonder if you just use the Iodine with nothing else for a few days if the lesions/scabs will dry and begin to fall off.

I'm sure she's uncomfortable.

The crop. Have you looked inside the beak just to make sure there's no lesions or yellow pasty material?
If it's squishy in the mornings, then treating as sour is a good idea.

On the contrary I appreciate how thoroughly you’re trying to help me!

No lesions or weird spots in her mouth/throat. I was using triple antibiotic because the lesions seemed very dry to me, but I stopped that two days ago and switched to silver honey. Should I go back to iodine?

I have her on vitaking respiratory antibiotics because that’s all I had access to, but I’ve now ordered amoxicillin because I read that’s better for this type of infection. It won’t be here until Thursday at the soonest though and tomorrow is day 7 of the vitaking.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

On the contrary I appreciate how thoroughly you’re trying to help me!

No lesions or weird spots in her mouth/throat. I was using triple antibiotic because the lesions seemed very dry to me, but I stopped that two days ago and switched to silver honey. Should I go back to iodine?

I have her on vitaking respiratory antibiotics because that’s all I had access to, but I’ve now ordered amoxicillin because I read that’s better for this type of infection. It won’t be here until Thursday at the soonest though and tomorrow is day 7 of the vitaking.

See if the silver honey makes a difference over the course of a few days. If not, then switch just to Iodine and see what happens.

Sometimes we have to try a few things.

It's good that you have other meds on the way. Hopefully the Amoxicillin will be of benefit.

Keep us posted on how she's doing.

 

[Redbrew]

Respiratory illness can sometimes cause darkening/deadening of combs and wattles due to poor oxygen. Just a thought since you mentioned a cough. I have a bird with permanent respiratory distress (old girl) and her comb and wattles go blue and will get scabby when she gets sick or has a bad go/more symptomatic.

 

[Randomlyassigned]

See if the silver honey makes a difference over the course of a few days. If not, then switch just to Iodine and see what happens.

Sometimes we have to try a few things.

It's good that you have other meds on the way. Hopefully the Amoxicillin will be of benefit.

Keep us posted on how she's doing.

The edges of some of the scabs on her comb and wattles seem to be lifting now. The tissue underneath appears to be very pale, no bleeding.

Not really seeing any changes under her vent yet, though. It’s still pretty yucky.

She does seem to be up and about slightly more. Still pretty dragged down but not huddling as much/hanging out near her flock mates more.

Today will be day 3 of the monistat for sour crop. Still has a bit of a water balloon crop- hoping that will get better soon?

 

[Randomlyassigned]

The amoxicillin arrives Thursday, but I am not sure how to dose it. It is a 20% powder. @Eggcessive or @Wyorp Rock any tips for dosing?

With the vitaking respiratory mix (smz-tmp ,tylosin,doxycycline mix) I was doing 1/8 tsp twice a day.

She seems more interested in food today which I’m taking as a cautiously good sign.