Comb and wattle growing white hairs

[waywind]

Hi all,

My two buff orphingtons are doing great, after surviving our first broody breaking just a few weeks ago. Egg laying and all other behaviours are back to normal. They are now about 8-9 months old.

The only thing I've noticed is that their wattles and Combs aren't the nice full red colour they were a few months ago. They've started to go a bit white; sometimes it looks like white hairs to me but I'm not sure. I've attached a photo of them today and one a few months ago when their Combs were nice and red.

I've tried to read around but the closest I could get was possible frost bite; given we're in Australia and in spring I find it hard to connect it to this. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks,
Waywind

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The combs look a little dry to me. You can put a little baby oil or coconut oil on the combs if you wish.

 

[FortCluck]

The combs look a little dry to me. You can put a little baby oil or coconut oil on the combs if you wish.

I agree...

 

[waywind]

Thanks for your comments guys.

Would there be any underlaying issues that would cause this? They drink water from a bucket with poultry nipples so I think they can get enough hydration. Or is it just a climate thing?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for your comments guys.

Would there be any underlaying issues that would cause this? They drink water from a bucket with poultry nipples so I think they can get enough hydration. Or is it just a climate thing?

Could be climate or hydration problem. They have just come out of winter too right?
Age may influence it too.

 

[waywind]

Hi again,

So it looked like things were improving with the dry combs, which was good. However I noticed a white bump on Buffy today that I tried just flicking off but it's some sort of growth.

Opinions on fowl pox or favus? Based on previous threads, sounds like potentially fowl pox if it turns black?

Cute photo though right?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi again,

So it looked like things were improving with the dry combs, which was good. However I noticed a white bump on Buffy today that I tried just flicking off but it's some sort of growth.

Opinions on fowl pox or favus? Based on previous threads, sounds like potentially fowl pox if it turns black?

Cute photo though right?

Yes, she's cute

I think I would investigate that bump a little more to see if it's not some type of debris that's stuck on the comb.

 

[Mimi13]

I agree with @Wyorp Rock. It does not look like fowl pox to me. Fowl pox would be a larger spot that develops into a blister. One of my original girls developed fowl pox and the blisters mostly appeared on her wattles. I think you could gently rub that white speck between your thumb and index finger and it would come off. Even if it doesn’t I don’t think that is anything to worry about.

And BTW, she’s a pretty little girl.

 

[waywind]

Thanks as always for the advice

I'm glad I just have the two to learn from first. I was pretty keen to get four first, but now I think it was a good idea to start with two and survive the first 6 months before I get more. Otherwise I think I would go crazy with anxiety over them haha.

I'll monitor and see how we go. Buffy is pretty skittish compared to her sister so I prefer just to let her be. Pretty impressed I got a good photo of her haha.

 

[Mimi13]

Thanks as always for the advice

I'm glad I just have the two to learn from first. I was pretty keen to get four first, but now I think it was a good idea to start with two and survive the first 6 months before I get more. Otherwise I think I would go crazy with anxiety over them haha.

I'll monitor and see how we go. Buffy is pretty skittish compared to her sister so I prefer just to let her be. Pretty impressed I got a good photo of her haha.

You can always pluck her off the roost to check her. Use a little flashlight or headlamp to do your checking. The birds generally will give you no problem at all at nighttime.