What is wrong with my rooster’s comb?

[threeblueducks]

My rooster’s comb has these raw, scabbed-looking patches on either side of it, in the same place on both sides.

I just noticed it like this today. He is a two year old French Cuckoo Marans and is completely normal otherwise (active, eating, drinking, etc).

Any ideas? Does it look infected, and is it just a coincidence that it is the same on both sides?

Spoiler: Photos of both sides:

 

[nuthatched]

Looks like scrape or a peck

 

[threeblueducks]

Looks like scrape or a peck

Could be, but he isn’t at the bottom of the pecking order — he is definitely the top roo (our other one is terrified of him), so that rules that out. It’s possible that he scratched it on something, though. I can’t think of any places off the top of my head where there might be exposed metal/wire, etc, but I will definitely keep an eye out.

 

[nuthatched]

Could be, but he isn’t at the bottom of the pecking order — he is definitely the top roo (our other one is terrified of him), so that rules that out. It’s possible that he scratched it on something, though. I can’t think of any places off the top of my head where there might be exposed metal/wire, etc, but I will definitely keep an eye out.

You get pecked no matter where you are on the pecking order.

 

[CoopBoots]

I've had hens "groom" roosters in this way. Existing peck mark or scrape gets its scab pecked off which worsens the wound. Sometimes the rooster just allows this!

I'd watch to see if someone is picking at it. Blukote might help. But if it continues to enlarge or doesn't heal I'd advise a temporary look-but-no-touch solution until the sore heals without interference.

 

[threeblueducks]

I've had hens "groom" roosters in this way. Existing peck mark or scrape gets its scab pecked off which worsens the wound. Sometimes the rooster just allows this!

I'd watch to see if someone is picking at it. Blukote might help. But if it continues to enlarge or doesn't heal I'd advise a temporary look-but-no-touch solution until the sore heals without interference.

Ah, okay thanks! That sounds like something that he would let happen, as a very gentle and patient boy.

I’ve got some blue cover-up cream that I can put on it. The thing that stuck out to me as worrying was its being mirrored on both sides, but something like this might’ve happened: he scraped it on something and then turned his head so that the other side got scratched, then the hens picked at it and made it worse.

 

[threeblueducks]

Here are some pics of his comb today:

I’m concerned about how it is on both sides. Is it possible that somehow it is something that goes all the way through his comb? The yellow crust around the edges also looks a little infected-y (?) so I put an antibacterial spray on it before applying the blue cream. And fyi, the darker area around it that looks like bruising is just a stain from the cream that I had put on it.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

Is it fowl pox? I've never dealt with it personally I hope someone with more experience writes with advice!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Is it fowl pox? I've never dealt with it personally I hope someone with more experience writes with advice!

If it is fowl pox there isn’t much to be done about it. It’s a virus and will clear itself in a few weeks. But it would also be evident on other chickens.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

Oh that's good to know that it is contagious and should be evident on the other chickens.