Color Draining From Faces

[ChickenGirl555]

When my pullets first started laying, all of their faces were a deep, beautiful red. Now they are slowing turning pale and white. Why did this happen? What is causing this?

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Ok now my mind is blown. I was just checking on one of my EEs in the nesting box to see if she had finished laying yet, and I saw her comb was pale, and I thought, “I swear hers was red earlier today”. And then it started VERY quickly turning a deep red. What is this?!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings ChickenGirl555,

Can you upload a photo of the hens?

A chickens face, wattles and comb should be red, or even a dark pink in some breeds.

But when the face turns pale this is not good. It is called going light, which is indicative of anemia. The cause must be determined, so that it can be addressed, if that is even possible. Some conditions that can cause this are: parasites - both internal and external, injury - both internal and external, and diseases such as Infectious Anemia.

Sometimes you'll see this when a chicken has Coccidiosis, but there would be other symptoms.

So, a thorough exam on your pullets is needed. Write down any other symptoms that you see, feel, smell or hear.

Here are some things to check for:

• What do the poops look like? Watery or mucousy? What color?
  
  
• Look under the feet, make sure there are no sores or cuts.
  
  
• Look at the legs, are they smooth? Are the scales lifting?
  
  
• Feel under her belly, check for blisters or swelling.
  
  
• Look for mites and lice under the feathers, neck, under wings, vent area.
  
  
• Look under the wings, check for lumps or sores.
  
  
• Check the chicken's vent, is it clean and pink? Nothing hanging out?
  
  
• Listen to the breathing, do you hear any rattle noise?
  
  
• Look at her nostrils, any discharge or bubbles coming out?
  
  
• Look at the eyes, are they bright, clear and round?
  
  
• Look at the comb and wattles, are there any scabs or growths? How is the color? You said pale and white.
  

Now Describe the Chicken's Environment:

• What do you feed the chicken?
• Are the chickens normally?
• Do the chickens sleep in a coop?
• Do the chickens free range?
• Have you ever done a fecal float test or wormed the flock?
• Have you had any rodent problems recently?
• Have there been any predator attacks recently?
• Have there been any extreme weather events recently?
• Do you have any cats?

Hopefully the members of BYC, will have more information to figure out what could be going on with your flock.

Other members may have advice, please consider these too.

God Bless

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Seems like the stress of laying is causing them to go pale.

Stay calm, and do the exam to gather more information.

If a chicken over stresses from being handled, stop, and check a different chicken.


God bless

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Ok I just realised something. Their faces are red, but when they are relaxing in the shade or laying an egg, their faces are white or the red is...drained out of them. When I open the nesting box as one is laying, their faces are pale but then starting turning red until they are a normal, beautiful red. Is this something they do? They are acting normal.