What is this?

[LexsPeeps]

I've noticed my rooster has black spots on his comb, he shows no signs of feeling ill or anything out of the ordinary, what is it? Should I be concerned?

 

[coach723]

Looks like pecking wounds. Could be fowl pox, transmitted usually by mosquitos, but looks more like pecking to me. If you do some watching you'll probably find who's doing it. Could be another rooster, or hens. Mine will get pecked by hens on the roosts sometimes, they will often put up with it from hens. If it's another rooster you may have to separate them if it escalates.

 

[LexsPeeps]

We have 3 other roosters I hope thats it and not fowl pox. The one pictured is an aggressive breeder, I've had to lock him away from the flock before bc he was hurting the hens

 

[coach723]

It's probably the roo's. If he's top rooster someone may be deciding to challenge him. If you have less than 10 hens per rooster that can exacerbate the fighting. If you have the space and ability I would separate flocks or leave one roo with the flock and make a bachelor pad for the rest, they usually coexist with each other well in the absence of hens.

 

[micstrachan]

+1 to pecking wounds

 

[LexsPeeps]

We are in the process of building separate pens for the different breeds. Its taking more time than we hoped with the weather constantly changing so rapidly, one day is nice then pouring rain the next its snowing. We definately don't have enough hens to rooster ratio, looking to add more very soon

 

[LexsPeeps]

+1 to pecking wounds

So glad the general concensus is pecking wounds, he's my friendliest and favorite rooster I would hate to lose him!

 

[micstrachan]

Good luck!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Looks like pecking wounds.

x2