Tips of roosters comb are going black?

[sydneymarie]

Our rooster got into a fight with another rooster a couple months ago and has had these scabby marks on his comb, but it seemed like they got better over time. He now still has this on his comb and I have no idea what could be wrong. I assumed maybe it’s still from that fight months ago but it’s still here? I’ve noticed similar black spots on some of the hens but they seem to just be scabs as they will come off. I’ve checked the flock for mites but I haven’t seen anything, and I’m going to be spreading some diatomaceous earth in the coop just as a precaution. The affected tips of his comb are getting smaller as the days go by as well. Does anybody know what is going on with his comb? He eats, drinks and runs around the yard normally, doesn’t seem tired and he hasn’t lost any feathers.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. For whatever reason (perhaps frostbite) the tips of his comb have 'died' , are drying up and will eventually fall off - causing him no great harm.

 

[Eggcessive]

Those scabs are probably from injury to his comb, either from pecking or something he is hitting with his comb like fencing. Black marks on comb are usually from dried blood.

 

[Kessel23]

Those tips should shrivel up and fall off eventually. The flesh in the tips has been killed, this might have been caused by a fight or frostbite. Is he still fighting? Those scabs look pretty fresh. When my roos get in a fight the scabs will usually be gone in a few days.

 

[sydneymarie]

Those tips should shrivel up and fall off eventually. The flesh in the tips has been killed, this might have been caused by a fight or frostbite. Is he still fighting? Those scabs look pretty fresh. When my roos get in a fight the scabs will usually be gone in a few days.

No he’s not still fighting, we took care of the rooster that he fought a few months ago. The smaller scabs I’m sure are probably from the hens.

 

[Kessel23]

Alright, if the hens are pecking at him it is probably while he roosts. You might want to separate him for a while to let the scabs heal so the hens stop.