Why does a rooster or chicken have black spots on the comb, causes of the disease and methods of treatment
What is a village yard without poultry, in particular, the chickens we are used to? They are a source of healthy, nutritious meats, eggs, feathers and fluff. But it happens that still recently beautiful, healthy birds have problems - a rooster or hen has dark, black spots on the crest, it acquires a bluish tint. This can be the beginning of serious problems, so you need to know the reasons for the color change, study the symptoms and ways to treat diseases.
Why does the rooster's comb turn black
A change in the color of the comb in a rooster and a hen is influenced by various reasons, such as: viral and fungal diseases, the result of mechanical damage (fighting and pecking), frostbite, improper, poor diet and a lack of vitamins and trace elements.
When to sound the alarm
In order to know exactly why the bird's crest has turned black, lightened or turned blue, it is necessary to observe it and analyze the following factors:
- conditions of detention;
- diet (food) of birds;
- isolation of the chicken coop from external penetration;
- behavior, appearance and well-being of the bird;
- check for injuries and wounds;
- the frequency of use of vitamins and dietary supplements.
To prevent the consequences of darkening the ridge from becoming fatal, you need to carefully monitor the chickens and roosters. Signs to look out for include a sharp drop in egg production, sudden weight loss, persistent sleepiness, sluggishness, troubled stools, and discoloration of the scallop. In this case, immediate action should be taken to treat or destroy sick birds.
Crest diseases that cause blackening
Often the reason why the comb turns black is due to the disease in the bird. Therefore, you need to know the main symptoms and methods of treatment in order to help the birds in time.
Bird flu
This disease affects adults over 20 days old. It affects the gastrointestinal tract and lungs, and occurs only in a severe, acute form. Differs in fast spreading - in a short time the whole herd can get sick. The disease is incurable, so sick birds are destroyed, and the corpses are burned away from the chicken coop.
After that, the chicken coop is disinfected, and healthy birds are given antibiotics with antiviral effects, such as Interferon.
It is advisable for people with weak immunity not to contact with birds - the disease, mutating, is transmitted to humans.
Signs of the disease:
- visible darkening of the crest, as well as earrings;
- birds sit all the time, a visible lack of activity;
- fever, convulsions;
- staggering, falling when walking, unnatural body position;
- discharge of mucus from the beak and nostrils;
- breathing problems (wheezing);
- constant drowsiness, weakness;
- loose, foaming stools.
Aymeriosis
Poultry disease caused by parasites. With it, lameness appears in chickens and roosters, the ridges become bluish or, on the contrary, brighten, the limbs swell, the work of the heart is disrupted, and small ulcers appear on the mucous membrane.
For the treatment of the disease, antiparasitic drugs are used, complex vitamins, micro- and macroelements are added to the diet in an accessible, well-absorbed form. Sick birds are isolated in a clean, dry, light and well ventilated area. With proper treatment, there is a large recovery rate.
Aflotoxicosis
The discoloration of the comb can be caused by aflatoxicosis, a fungal disease of poultry. With it, the hens and roosters lose the shine of the plumage (it becomes dull), the scallops turn black, the earrings acquire a bluish tint, the birds become lethargic and sleepy. For treatment, antifungal complex drugs are used, the chicken coop is disinfected, and the bedding is burned.
Pasteurellosis
When this bacterial disease is affected, large, dark, sometimes just black or bluish spots appear on the cock's comb. Roosters and chickens lose their appetite, difficulty breathing, there is a constant thirst, the droppings turn green.
Sick birds, first of all, are isolated, in case of severe damage, they are destroyed, the chicken coop is disinfected, and the bedding is burned. Afterwards, treatment is carried out with antibiotics, in particular, Tetracycline or Norsulfazole. For prophylaxis, chickens are vaccinated with cholera serum.
Monocytosis
Other names for this viral disease are blue crest or infectious enteritis. Chickens lose their appetite, severe diarrhea begins, the comb, and the earrings acquire a bluish tint and wrinkle. For treatment, potent, antiviral antibiotics and multivitamin complexes are used.
Newcastle disease
A viral disease affecting poultry. Also known as "pseudo-plague" or "Asian plague". When chickens and roosters are affected, blue discoloration and spots on the scallop appear, paralysis of the limbs, diarrhea and discharge from the beak, poor coordination when walking, coughing and temperature rise to +44 C degrees are observed.
The disease is symptomatically similar to bird flu and cholera; young animals are most susceptible to it. With an outbreak of the disease, there is a massive poultry pest; there are no effective treatments. To prevent an epidemic, a general vaccination is carried out at a young age.
Avitaminosis
It occurs when there is a lack of vitamins, useful and mineral substances in the diet of roosters and chickens, as well as the lack of natural, natural nutrition. With vitamin deficiency, body weight decreases, feathers fall out in birds, joints swell, and a sluggish state is observed. The crest, as well as the earrings, become dark or light-colored.
It manifests itself with a meager diet and keeping in closed, poorly ventilated rooms. For treatment, multivitamin complexes, dietary supplements and vegetable feed are used.
Other reasons
The ridge may become discolored and stained due to other causes, such as injuries from fighting, pecking or frostbite.
Frostbite
Often, when kept in a cold, freezing chicken coop, birds develop black spots on the ridge (most often on the teeth).
To prevent frostbite, especially in areas with harsh winters, hen houses are thoroughly insulated.
In the affected birds, the lesions are treated with alcohol, and then smeared with petroleum jelly or fat.The use of special ointments, such as the Caring Milkmaid, has proven itself well. Until recovery, chickens are kept in a warm, heated room.
Pecking and fighting
Starting from the third month of life, young males begin to show aggression towards each other, fighting for leadership. This is a necessary life experience for them, but when fighting with adult roosters, serious mutilations and injuries (including the comb) are not uncommon.
With a small exercise yard, there is a danger of pecking - causing damage to each other and even cases of cannibalism. To prevent fights, such a balance is observed in the herd - 1 rooster for 10-15 chickens. And if wounds are received, they are spilled with hydrogen peroxide, rubbed with alcohol, and the bird is placed in a separate room until it recovers.
What to do when blackening the comb?
When the ridge is blackened, first of all, the bird is examined for damage and injuries, and its general condition is also visually assessed. If everything is outwardly normal, and chickens receive regular, nutritious nutrition and vitamin supplements, then vitamin deficiency can be excluded.
Then the cause of the change in the color of the comb is most likely a disease. This is symptomatically manifested in the behavior and well-being of the bird - it must be isolated and observed.
The best solution would be to seek help from a veterinarian.
The crest is bleeding
In the overwhelming majority of cases, a bleeding, injured crest means that the rooster was "sorting out the relationship" with another male. The injured bird is placed in a separate room until it recovers, and the wounds are washed with potassium permanganate, removing all the blood, and then smeared with brilliant green or alcohol. You can use a healing ointment, such as the Rescuer.
The comb turned blue
A blue crest signals that the bird is most likely seriously ill. It turns blue when chickens and roosters are affected by bird flu, Newcastle disease and others. An urgent appeal to a specialist is required, and after the diagnosis of the veterinarian, the treatment or destruction of the sick bird and the disinfection of the chicken coop are carried out.
White bloom on the crest
Often, poultry owners cannot understand why a seemingly healthy chicken has a pale scallop? A white bloom on the ridge, gradually turning into earrings, is nothing more than a scab. The sick bird becomes lethargic, does not feel well and loses its appetite.
The disease is not difficult to cure - the affected areas are lubricated with glycerin mixed with iodine, and vitamins and antifungal drugs are introduced into the diet. The coop is carefully cleaned and disinfected.
