Why does the comb have some black on it?

[oakhavenmama]

My sweet Big Red had black spots on her comb, but now one side of one of the points on her comb is turning black. Please help!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Do you see a skin wound under the blackened feathers? Or is that from a rooster?

As for the comb, it's hard to tell from the photo. Can you provide a closeup taken from the side?

It almost looks like a fungus of some kind. But I do know circulation problems, say from an injury elsewhere on her, could lessen the blood flow to her comb. Gentle compressions to each segment may return the color. The response when I did this to my rooster was impressive, but in his case he was suffering from serious wounds, which explains the reduced blood circulation.

You're in Texas, so it wouldn't be frostbite this time of year, right?

 

[oakhavenmama]

Bless you for responding! And thank you. I am so stressed about this and floundering around. I just returned from two WalMarts to try to find the right size wire crate for her.

I posted a longer query yesterday or the day before with more details. A few days ago my dog grabbed her or something when my back was turned. The dog had been doing really well with them, then just suddenly. She squawked and squawked but when she calmed down I couldn't find anything wrong with her. A little later, I think, I found a drop of blood on the henhouse floor by the nesting boxes. There seemed to be some black spots on her comb, she seemed to sound a little hoarse when she vocalized, but is better now.

The next day I found some more drops of blood on the henhouse floor under the roost, and saw that she had been pecked on her comb and some of it was missing! So I separated her from the other three hens yesterday, and last night. She seemed better today in the morning so I let them free range together, because they are usually too busy to peck each other during the day anyway. And her comb looked better this morning.

Then this afternoon it started looking black on one of the sides. I guess it's possible that the other day my dog could have grabbed her somewhere on her head and the circulation is impaired in the comb? Sorry about the photo quality, she just wouldn't hold still. She is moving around well, eating well. I isolated her again tonight since I think they do their pecking on the roost. I put her in a crate inside the henhouse so she could still be with the others.

Regarding the blackened looking feathers on her head. I thought there was a small scratch under the feathers there, so I put some antibiotic ointment on that area, and I think she got it dirty while rolling around in the dirt this afternoon. If it is a wound, it is very small. I will put more ointment on it tomorrow.

I don't think it could be frostbite, as the coolest temps we have had were in the 40s last night. I read somewhere that frostbite can occur when it is humid and cool, and that they need circulation more than warmth, so I went out and replaced her plastic dog crate that she spent the night in last night with a wire one. The temps tonight should be around 50, then this weekend we are going to be in the high 30s. Is it much colder where you are?

Her comb is very large and she tends to have some purplish color on it anyway, but this blackish is very disturbing. Also where she was pecked by the others on her comb, there is a blackish looking possible scab. Is that the way it looks normally when it scabs over? Then there is a small dark dot on one of the points on her comb.

Sorry for this long drawn out post. I am trying to cover every detail that might give you a clue. Taking care of chickens is very stressful for me. I feel as though my life depends on keeping them safe and happy. LOL. They are very tender and sweet and I love them so much. Big Red is my favorite.

I will try gently massaging/stimulating the points on her comb in the morning. I'll also attempt a better photo. If you can think of anything else to try, please let me know. I am already forever in your debt, although I am so new at this chicken keeping I doubt I could help you.

Thank you again,
Connie

 

[oakhavenmama]

Here is the photo that I took yesterday, the side comb is not as black as it is today.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I got a big dose of chicken experience when my rooster was attacked by a coyote. But other than that most of what I know comes from the forums.

My feeling is that the black dots are dried blood and scabs. I've seen this before on one of the hens and on Henry. The compression is definitely helpful. Combs are awkward things to work with, but unlike other parts of a chicken's body, you can see the results rather quickly.

The first time I did this for Henry, it took maybe ten minutes for the color to come flooding back. Later in the day some of the blue-gray returned, and so I did it again. Gradually his comb was holding color on its own.

Considering what you described, I can't imagine anything else would explain the black dots. Chickens are cannibals, and let me tell you, I almost didn't get chickens when I read about that somewhere in the forums. I had a teeny speck of a sore on my toe, and one of the hens wouldn't stop trying to peck me. I swear they'd eat me alive and leave nothing for the vultures if they could.

The rule of thumb is no blood, no open sores of any kind. Once they heal, the patient can be returned to the flock. While she's in the cage, just make sure she doesn't rest up against the cage walls, where the others can peck at her.

As for whether she has other injuries from the dog attack, frequent observations of her behavior, movements, and eating and drinking habits should give you some good insight. Post any concerns here.

With regards to frostbite, I don't know enough about cold weather and chickens just yet, but like you I do recall reading that frostbite-like symptoms can happen in non-freezing temperatures. I don't know for sure, though. I'm in California, and today it was 92 degrees. Blech!!

I don't recall if you mentioned what you're feeding her, but maybe give her a cooked egg for added protein. And a nutrient booster like Nutri-Drench added to some water can't hurt either.

I hope she makes a quick recovery!

 

[oakhavenmama]

Henry -- love the name! (My dad's, LOL.)

Ordered Nutri-Drench. Check.

Thanks again for your help. Will definitely try compression. I am a retired massage therapist, so that's right up my alley, LOL.

Hope you get cooler weather soon! 87 here today, then the cold front comes through.

Time to go face the hens and see what has developed over night! Hope your day is great. Give my regards to Henry.

 

[oakhavenmama]

Update on Red: Keeping isolated, performed compression on comb. Not sure it made any difference, because it looks black! Almost like a wind burn or perhaps light frostbite. Hope it isn't frostbite, because our weather is going to get much colder! I wondered if it could be bruises. I will continue with the light compression, because whatever it is, increased circulation will help it heal. She didn't seem to object, perhaps enjoyed???

P. S. What an experience that must have been with the coyote! Glad Henry made it, in large part due to your attentive care.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Update on Red: Keeping isolated, performed compression on comb. Not sure it made any difference, because it looks black! Almost like a wind burn or perhaps light frostbite. Hope it isn't frostbite, because our weather is going to get much colder! I wondered if it could be bruises. I will continue with the light compression, because whatever it is, increased circulation will help it heal. She didn't seem to object, perhaps enjoyed???

P. S. What an experience that must have been with the coyote! Glad Henry made it, in large part due to your attentive care.

It could indeed be bruising. I'm so new to combs and wattles I wouldn't know what a bruised one looks like. And my husband still can't bring himself to touching those things.

Now, where it gets challenging is when you have to massage something with scales. Chicken legs don't feel like they have anything in there, but they're warm, so they must!