A rooster has black spots on the crest: what is this disease and its causes, methods of treatment

What is a village yard without poultry, in particular, the chickens we are used to? They are a source of he althy, nutritious meat, eggs, feathers and down. But it happens that until recently beautiful, he althy birds have problems - a rooster or chicken 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 causes of discoloration, study the symptoms and ways to treat diseases.

Why does a rooster's comb turn black

Cock and chicken comb color change is affected by various reasons, such as: viral and fungal diseases, the result of mechanical damage (fighting and pecking), frostbite, improper, poor diet and lack of vitamins and trace elements.

When to sound the alarm

To know exactly why the crest of a bird turned black, brightened or turned blue, it is necessary to observe it and analyze the following factors:

• containment conditions;
• diet (nutrition) of birds;
• isolation of the chicken coop from external penetration;
• behavior, appearance and well-being of the bird;
• check for injuries and wounds;
• frequency of taking vitamins and supplements.

In order for the consequences of the darkening of the comb not to become fatal, you need to carefully monitor chickens and roosters. Signs to look out for include a sharp drop in egg production, sudden weight loss, constant sleepiness, sluggishness, problematic stools, and discoloration of the scallop. In this case, immediate action should be taken to treat or destroy diseased birds.

Comb diseases that cause blackening

Often the reason why the comb turned black is the defeat of the bird by the disease. Therefore, you need to know the main symptoms and methods of treatment in order to help the birds in time.

Avian flu

This disease affects adults over 20 days old. It affects the gastrointestinal tract and lungs, and occurs only in a severe, acute form. It is characterized by rapid spread - in a short time, the whole herd can get sick. The disease is incurable, so sick birds are destroyed, and the corpses are burned far from the chicken coop.

After that, the chicken coop is disinfected, and he althy birds are given antibiotics with antiviral action, such as Interferon.

It is advisable for people with weak immunity not to contact birds - the disease, mutating, is transmitted to humans.

Signs of disease:

• visible darkening of the comb and earrings;
• birds sit all the time, apparent lack of activity;
• fever, convulsions;
• staggering, falling while walking, unnatural body position;
• discharge of mucus from beak and nostrils;
• breathing problems (wheezing);
• constant drowsiness, weakness;
• liquid, foamy stools.

Eimeriosis

A bird disease caused by parasites. With it, lameness appears in chickens and roosters, the combs become cyanotic or, on the contrary, brighten, the limbs swell, the work of the heart is disturbed, 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-digestible form.Sick birds are isolated in a clean, dry, bright room with good ventilation. With proper treatment, a high percentage of recovery is observed.

Aflotoxicosis

Change in the color of the crest can be caused by aflotoxicosis - a fungal disease of birds. With it, the luster of plumage disappears in chickens and roosters (becomes dull), scallops turn black, earrings acquire a bluish tint, birds become lethargic and sleepy. For treatment, antifungal complex preparations are used, the chicken coop is disinfected, and the litter is burned.

Pasteurellosis

When affected by this bacterial disease, large, dark, sometimes just black or bluish spots appear on the cock's comb. Roosters and hens lose their appetite, breathing becomes difficult, constant thirst appears, the litter turns green.

Sick birds, first of all, are isolated, in severe cases they are destroyed, the chicken coop is disinfected, and the bedding is burned. After treatment is carried out with antibiotics, in particular, Tetracycline or Norsulfazol. For prevention, chickens are vaccinated with anti-cholera serum.

Monocytosis

Other names for this viral disease are blue comb or infectious enteritis. The chickens lose their appetite, severe diarrhea begins, the comb, as well as the earrings, become bluish 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, blueness and spots on the scallop appear, paralysis of the limbs, diarrhea and discharge from the beak, poor coordination when walking, coughing and fever up to +44 C degrees are observed.

The disease is symptomatic similar to bird flu and cholera, and young animals are most susceptible to it. With an outbreak of the disease, a mass death of birds is observed, there are no effective methods of treatment. To prevent an epidemic, universal vaccination is carried out at a young age.

Avitaminosis

It occurs when there is a lack of vitamins, nutrients and minerals in the diet of roosters and chickens, as well as the lack of natural, natural nutrition. With vitamin deficiency, body weight drops, feathers fall out in birds, joints swell, and a sluggish state is observed. The comb, as well as the earrings, become dark or lightish.

Manifested with a poor diet and content in closed, poorly ventilated areas. For treatment, multivitamin complexes, bioadditives and vegetable food are used.

Other reasons

The comb may change color and become stained due to other causes, such as injuries from fights, pecking or frostbite.

Frostbite

Often, when kept in a cold, freezing chicken coop, birds develop black spots on the comb (most often on the teeth).

Chicken coops are carefully insulated to prevent frostbite, especially in areas with harsh winters.

In affected birds, the affected birds are treated with alcohol, and then smeared with petroleum jelly or fat. The use of special ointments, such as 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 in fights in adult roosters, serious injuries and injuries (including the comb) are not uncommon.

With a small walking 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 hens. And in case of getting wounds, they are shed with hydrogen peroxide, wiped with alcohol, and the bird is placed in a separate room until recovery.

What to do when blackening the comb?

When the crest is blackened, first of all, the bird is examined for damage and injuries, and its general condition is also visually assessed. If outwardly everything is normal, as well as chickens receive regular, good nutrition and vitamin supplements, then beriberi can be excluded.

Then the reason for the discoloration of the crest is likely to be a disease. This is symptomatically manifested in the behavior and well-being of the bird - it must be isolated and observed.

The best solution is to seek help from a veterinarian.

The comb is bleeding

In the vast majority of cases, a bleeding, injured comb means that the rooster was "sorting things out" with another male. An injured bird is placed in a separate room until recovery, 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 Rescuer.

Comb turned blue

The blue comb indicates 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 sick bird is treated or destroyed and the chicken coop is disinfected.

White coating on the crest

Often, poultry owners cannot understand why a seemingly he althy chicken has a pale scallop? A white coating on the crest, gradually turning into earrings, is nothing more than a scab lesion. A sick bird becomes lethargic, feels unwell and loses its appetite.

The disease is not difficult to cure - the affected areas are smeared with glycerin mixed with iodine, and vitamins and antifungal drugs are introduced into the diet. The chicken coop is carefully cleaned and disinfected.

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