What is wrong with my rooster's comb?

[SnuffyLoco]

He's had these sores on them for most of this season and they don't seem to go away. It looks like scabs from something, but they haven't completely gone away. They'll look a little bit better for a while, but then get worse again. Anybody know what this is from and what I can do for him?

 

[azygous]

Appears to be pecking injuries.

 

[SnuffyLoco]

Appears to be pecking injuries.

Do you think so? He's the only rooster and I never see any of the girls ever do that to him.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you ever see him reaching through any chicken wire fencing or briars? Sharp objects such as a feeder, nails or wires sticking out somewhere around the coop might be a problem. I would agree that it looks like injuries in various stages of healing. Pecking would also be possible, but I would look for something rough or sharp since no one seems to be pecking him.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Wow, that is some comb! What does your feeder and waterers look like? Could he be injuring himself on those?

 

[coach723]

He has a pretty large comb, so I'm not surprised he might injure it. You might try keeping ointment on the spots (plain neosporin or plain triple antibiotic ointment - apply with a q tip) which may keep them from cracking (the one on the bottom picture looks like it's scab has cracked) and may discourage pecking as well. I agree, some of those spots look more abraded than pecked, so rubbing on something could be happening.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you think so? He's the only rooster and I never see any of the girls ever do that to him.

Watch the girls, likely they are picking at the scabs making it hard for them to heal up.

You can try a No Pick ointment to see if that deters the ladies.

I had a rooster with a large comb like that, he had similar scabs, he'd stand still and let the girls pick his comb (one girl on each side). Hens (chickens) love blood. Comb wouldn't heal up. I moved him to his own space (he pitched a fit!) so the comb could heal, then put him back with the girls. They left the comb alone as long as he didn't have any scabs.