Tips of combs are black

[mystang89]

Four out of 10 of the chickens comb tips are turning black. They went from red to white to black in about a day and a half. I looked up what it might be and saw some disease that had worms in their stool or frostbite. So I looked at their stools and never saw any worm and the temps haven't gotten below 30's at night for over a week. Before that the temps got down to the teens at night with the highs in the upper 20's but the chickens have been in the same environment before and never had any problems with frostbite. Either way, it definitely isn't cold enough for it right now. Any thoughts as to what this might be? I started them on corrid just in case it is worms.

 

[Johnn]

Well could it not just be really cold at night to make the combs have frost bite? My cockerel has it:

 

[DraigAthar]

If it's the tips, it's most likely frostbite. You get frostbite with moist, cold air. It doesn't have to be super cold, it's humid + cold that gets 'em. Other things to look into would be fowl pox or mites. If they are fighting and pecking at each other, scabs could look like black spots on the combs, but those are usually randomly all over the comb, not just on the tips. Same thing with the fowl pox really, it looks like black blotches all over the combs, not just on the tips.

 

[mystang89]

Thanks. I guess it might be colder at night than what I realize. Is there anything to do about frostbite? I heard putting vasoline on the combs help. Can anyone verify?

 

[Johnn]

Thanks. I guess it might be colder at night than what I realize. Is there anything to do about frostbite? I heard putting vasoline on the combs help. Can anyone verify?

Yeah that does help, i need to get some vaseline for mine before the comb drops off!

 

[Tuckerbelle]

It has been my experience that Vaseline will not help or prevent frostbite. My Barred Rock rooster had black tips just like what the photo that Johnn posted. The tips eventually dry and fall off. Watch them closely for infection, though. If that happens, the infected part will need to be trimmed off. Not a pleasant prospect, I think.

 

[Johnn]

It has been my experience that Vaseline will not help or prevent frostbite. My Barred Rock rooster had black tips just like what the photo that Johnn posted. The tips eventually dry and fall off. Watch them closely for infection, though. If that happens, the infected part will need to be trimmed off. Not a pleasant prospect, I think.

What so the black bit is defintley going to fall off?!

 

[Nimue]

My rooster Ping has developed a whitish patch on the comb that is turning black, and some other spots are also turning black, so I'm posting to add to the discussion, and including pictures. I wonder about skin cancer, tho they are not very old. And otherwise in very good shape. We have had some frosty nights over the last month, sometimes they peck at each other as they eat, but he's the rooster and doesn't get that too often. Could be not enough circulation, perhaps a fungal situation. I wonder if I should try some topical antifungal or antibiotics. I'd sure appreciate any considerations anyone might have to remedy this.

 

[ThornyRidge]

the black part will eventually slough off.. frost bite goes through the stages of red/swollen/hot to white/grey and finally black where the areas that "died" fall off... I have several roos that have survived with rounded nubs where they used to have large pointy combs! Watch the wattles too.. those are also definately prone to frost bite and will also turn black and parts will come off..

 

[BuffOrpington88]

If it happens again, you can put a triple antibiotic ointment on the comb to prevent it from getting infected.