BLACK COMB in Chickens- Causes, Treatment, Prevention

The most likely reason a chicken’s comb may be turning black is frost bite. Other possible causes are: sunburn, snake bite, dried blood, fowl pox, ringworm, external parasites, harmless hyper-pigmentation, or simply dirt and mud.

Some illnesses can cause the comb to turn deep purple which can easily be mistaken for a chicken’s comb turning black, these include: fowl cholera, blackhead disease, and Avian Influenza. 

What is the comb?

The chicken comb “is a fleshy growth or crest on the top of the head”¹. Both roosters and hens have combs. Typically, roosters will have larger combs than hens. This aids in mate selection.

The comb (and wattles) help regulate body temperature since chickens don’t sweat. Blood circulates through the comb, and cools down as it reenters the body. 

Comb colour is a clear indication of the health of a chicken. A healthy comb will be plump, supple and bright. An unhealthy chicken will have a pale comb that may be droopy or flaky. 

Chickens with naturally black combs

Some breeds of chickens naturally have a black comb due to melanistic genetics, meaning they have higher levels of pigment (melanin). 

• Mystic Onyx
• Black Silkie
• Kadaknath
• Sumatra
• Ayam Cemani

9 Reasons your chicken’s comb may be turning black

1. Dirt + Mud

• varying sizes of black or dark brown splotches and smears

TREATMENT:

The first thing to do before you become concerned with more serious health issues, is to thoroughly wash the comb with warm water and a cloth. If required, use a mild soap such as Dawn Dish Soap, to assist with cleaning the area.

PREVENTION:

Make sure the outdoor area has proper drainage. Use dry straw or pine shavings to absorb extra moisture, reapply as needed.

2. Frost Bite

• comb will begin to discolour, first becoming pale, then white, and finally black
• tips of the comb are most often affected
• blisters may be present

Severe frost bite is the most common cause for a chicken’s comb to be turning black.

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When the flesh has turned black, necrosis has occurred; the skin has died and will fall off in 3 – 6 weeks. It will not grow back. 

Roosters with large, floppy combs are most at risk for frost bite because of the surface area exposed. In addition, roosters aren’t as likely to tuck their heads beneath their wings during the night to protect themselves.

TREATMENT:

If you are concerned that your chicken is distressed; they are not moving around very much, staying away from the group, neck tucked in, hunched over with feather puffed out, not eating or drinking well, take them somewhere heated to slowly warm up and encourage blood flow.

DO NOT use direct heat to warm them! This will amplify any discomfort they may be in. 

If other flock members seem to be pecking and picking at the affected area, isolate the chicken until it can heal properly.

If the blackened comb has fallen off prematurely, there will be an open wound. Treat the area with a mild antiseptic such as peroxide, Polysporin, or Blue Kote. Monitor for signs of infection.  If the comb falls off on its own, the tissue underneath will be completely healed.

Covering the comb in petroleum jelly can aid in healing, as well as create a barrier to prevent continued frost bite. Learn more about treating frost bite here.

PREVENTION:

The best way to prevent a chicken’s comb from turning black due to frost bite, is to choose cold hardy breeds, such as Barred Rock, Rhode Island Red, or White Leghorns (these birds have done well even when our frigid Canadian Winter reaches -55 degrees Celsius/-67 degrees Fahrenheit!). Make sure there are enough birds to offer warmth to one another during roosting. The ideal size of flock will depend on the size of you coop.

Keep bedding dry and allow for proper ventilation. Here are more simple ways to prevent frost bite in chickens.

Will frost bite affect egg production?

Frost bite does not directly affect egg production, but dropping temperatures, and decreased hours of daylight will reduce frequency. Chickens need 14-16 hours of light to reach optimum egg production.

Many poultry owners choose to provide artificial light during the dark season. 

3. Sunburn

• black spots or darkening colour

 More common during the hot weather of the summer months.

TREATMENT:

Apply soothing aloe vera to the comb.

PREVENTION:

Make sure flock has access to shade in the form of trees, shrubs, shade cloth, a shelter, or even a tarp at all times of day.

4. Snake bite

• blood crusted scabs

TREATMENT:

The site of the snake bite may be scabbed over appearing black. Keep wounds clean and treat with mild antiseptic if needed. Some flock owners suggest a 1mL oral treatment of antihistamine, such as Benadryl.

PREVENTION:

Hens are most vulnerable to snake bites while setting eggs, so ensure that they have a secure coop with nesting boxes 1 foot off the ground. Roosters are more likely to attack a snake and be bitten in the process.

5. Exoparasites- Mites, fleas, lice, mosquitos

• Clusters of droppings appear as black spots on the comb, face and feathers
• blood spots and scabs from insect bites

Adult mites and fleas are brown-black in colour, where as lice are light grey. Severe infestations can cause anemia as “mites can consume up to 6% of a chicken’s blood volume in a single day.²“

TREATMENT:

If you determine there are mites, lice, or fleas in your flock, treat every bird with an appropriate powder or spray, use vaseline to cover the legs- this will smother any bugs and prevent parasite eggs on the feet from hatching.

A combination of Ivermectin, Permethrin concentrate powder, and Elector PSP can be used to treat your flock. Elko Veterinarian Clinic provides the following guide:

Permethrin Concentrate/Powder (adulticide)	Applied to chicken according to label	No egg withdrawal time if used according to label
Elector PSP concentrate (adulticide & larvicide)	9 ml per gallon of water applied to vent area and used to spray a cleaned coop thoroughly.New batch made per use.	No egg withdrawal time
Injectable Ivermectin (adulticide)	Orally: 0.2 mg/kgApplied topically: 3-4 drops for standard size breeds, 1-2 drops for bantam breedsInjected subcutaneously: 0.2 mg/kg	8-week egg withdrawal time

PREVENTION:

Maintain a clean environment and provide a dust bath of dirt or sand. Chickens will flap in the dust and clean beneath their feathers. Diatomaceous earth can be offered as a dust bath to increase efficiency, but beware that it can irritate the lungs of both humans and chickens if inhaled. Spray entire coop area with a disinfectant such as Elector PSP or bleach solution to stave off recurrence.

6. Dried blood

• Sudden appearance of dark patches on the comb that may vary in size

Congealed blood from a fight may appear black on the comb.

TREATMENT:

Minor wounds, scabs, or peck marks will generally heal on their own. Treat with mild antiseptic and monitor behaviour of other birds to guarantee they will not cause additional harm. Severe lacerations may require sutures.

PREVENTION:

Ensure that you have the appropriate ratio of hens to roosters (10 hens to 1 rooster). Determine whether the chickens have adequate floor space. It is recommended to have 1.5 – 2 square feet per bird inside the coop, and 8-10 square feet per bird available as an outdoor run³.

7. Hyper- Pigmentation

• flecks of black or darkened colour

There are reported cases where a chicken develops black spots on their comb and shows no other signs of illness. The spots may remain on the bird’s comb or disappear. This is reported as harmless hyper-pigmentation. 

TREATMENT:

No treatment necessary.

PREVENTION:

No prevention methods.

8. Ringworm (Favus)

• white powdery spots with occasional dark patches or crusty scabs

Favus is a fungal infection that is easily recognized by the white coating that develops on the comb. If the infection remains isolated to the comb, recovery is expected, however, if it spreads to feathered areas, mortality increases.

TREATMENT:

Topical fungal creams such as Miconazole (nitrate 2%)⁴, can be applied directly to the comb⁵.

PREVENTION:

Ringworm can be transmitted to other animals and humans through contact, so proper care and disinfecting must be observed to reduce the risk. The bacteria can remain on surfaces, therefore, it is important to disinfect coop walls, roosts, and equipment.

9. Fowl Pox

• dry crusty black scabs

Fowl pox presents its self as scabby lesions on the comb, face, or legs. Although the black scabs are unsightly, it does not spread quickly and has a low mortality rate. Fowl pox cannot be transmitted to humans, dogs, cats, or other animals⁶. 

TREATMENT:

There is no treatment for fowl pox, but some poultry owners cover the chicken’s legs with petroleum jelly to promote healing and ease discomfort.

PREVENTION:

Fowl Pox is a viral infection that is transmitted through direct contact with lesions, airborne flakes, and mosquito bites. If you notice pox marks on any unfeathered area of a chicken, quarantine the bird for 30 days. The scabs will heal in approximately 4 weeks.

Chickens can be vaccinated as a preventative measure.

Deep purple comb or blue comb are frequently mistaken as black colouring

It may be hard to distinguish if the chicken’s comb is truly turning black.

Black issues tend to affect an isolated, area where as other discolourations often affect the entire comb spreading to unfeathered skin and feet.

The hen’s comb could be dark purple or bluish. When this is the case, it is often linked to respiratory problems or poor circulation and in extreme cases, can cause liver problems and heart attack.

Chocking can cause difficulty breathing and the skin may turn blue tinged due to a lack of oxygen, called cyanosis. 

Fowl Cholera

Fowl Cholera can present as deep purple discolouration of the comb and wattles, along with mucous in the mouth, green watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, and possible respiratory infection.

TREATMENT:

Antibiotics can be used to treat Fowl Cholera, although they will not eradicate the disease, therefore it is suggested to cull infected birds and thoroughly sanitize coop area⁷.

PREVENTION:

Fowl cholera is prevented through cleaning routines and rodent prevention, low stress environments and adequate ventilation. Vaccines are available as a preventative measure⁸.

Blackhead Disease

A parasitic disease that causes the chicken’s head and other featherless areas to appear tinged blue, rather than black, as implied. The mortality is 10-20% in poultry, but much more fatal in turkeys.⁹

TREATMENT:

Paramomycin is available in Canada for treating Blackhead disease¹⁰. Unfortunately, there are no approved treatments in other regions, including the United States and Australia. Some veterinarians may prescribe antibiotics.

PREVENTION:

For added preventative measures, consider a deworming routine of 1 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar per gallon of clean water, and 3 cloves of crushed garlic, to mitigate internal parasites. Contact your local vet for chemical parasitic treatments.

Prioritize a clean chicken coop.

Avian Influenza

Avian influenza does not directly affect the colour of the comb. A chicken with the bird flu in poor health will have a dull, discoloured comb. The respiratory distress caused by the avian flu may cause the comb to be cyanotic and appear deep purple or blue, which could be mistaken as black¹¹.

TREATMENT:

If you suspect that Avian Influenza is present, notify your local veterinarian, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Animal Health Office (here), or the appropriate inspection agency in your region.

It is rare for a flock to recover; euthanasia is common in attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

PREVENTION:

Limit contact with wild birds and uphold cleanliness in the coop, feeders, and waterers. Quarantine any birds at first sign of illness¹².

Remember,

Not all colour change is problematic. The comb of a chicken can change colour for a variety of reasons, for instance; molting, coming into maturity, or recently laying an egg.

Thankfully, if you notice your chicken’s comb turning black it is often a treatable condition such as dirt, frost bite, mites, or fowl pox.  A clean coop and balanced diet will prevent the vast majority of issues a poultry farmer may be faced with.  

Explore some surprising chicken feed restrictions and learn how to provide a high quality, protein rich diet for your flock, here.

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1. Comb and Wattle Disease in Poultry- SRPublications.com ↩︎
2. Elk Veterinarian Clinic> Poultry Lice and Mites>paragraph 3 ↩︎
3. Management of Backyard Poultry>By Yuko Sato ,Patricia S. Wakenell>Reviewed/Revised May 2020>Modified Oct 2022>Merckvetmanual.com ↩︎
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7. Merckvetmanual.com>Poultry>Fowl Cholera> Treatment of Fowl Cholera>By Jean E. Sander>
   Reviewed/Revised Nov 2019>Modified Oct 2022 ↩︎
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9. British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Fisheries> Animal Health Monitor> Dr. Shauna-Lee Chai, 2021> Volume 14, Issue 1 ↩︎
10. Ask the Vet: Blackhead Disease>Monica Dick>June 15,2020>Canadianpoultrymag.com ↩︎
11. Government of Canada>Canadian Food Inspection Agency>Animal Health>Terrestrial Animals>Disease>Reportable>Avian Influenza>Signs of Bird Flu ↩︎
12. Animal Veterinarian Medical Association(AVMA)>Animal Health and Welfare>Avian Influenza ↩︎