Comb changing color with relaxing

[HortenseCumberbatch]

I've noticed by barred rock 'blushes' when she's stressed. Her head gets really red...where as when she's just chilling she looks rather pinkish/pale.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

One of my EEs does this. She jumps into my lap to be petted, and as I do, her comb turns all the way to yellow!...and then she usually falls asleep. She's more cat than chicken.

 

[tina love]

Got a question . .. since you guys seem to be in tune with the color of combs and behavior, i got an huge egg today from my blue asian. She just started laying a couple weeks back, but today i noticed she was very pale in the comb . .. could it be from the stress of the size egg? she's not a "lap a doodle" ( cute by the way!) but she seems very at ease.

the egg on the right is the one she laid today yesterdays is on the left . .

 

[HES2012]

My hens are 19 weeks old and I am expecting an egg any day now. But, I have noticed some of them have pale wattles and combs.. Does anyone have any ideas of what might be wrong? You can't see as well as you can in person, but my hen on the left has the more pale colored comb and wattle compared to the ones on the right.

 

[Batmanandhulky]

Hi I've been looking on the net trying to find out about the combs. My hen definitely gets paler when being petted. I wasn't sure if she was stressed although she doesn't struggle or run away.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Got a question . .. since you guys seem to be in tune with the color of combs and behavior, i got an huge egg today from my blue asian. She just started laying a couple weeks back, but today i noticed she was very pale in the comb . .. could it be from the stress of the size egg? she's not a "lap a doodle" ( cute by the way!) but she seems very at ease.

the egg on the right is the one she laid today yesterdays is on the left . .

Pale come was probably due to the large egg. That had to be rough getting that out. Did it turn back to red a day or so later?

 

[Batmanandhulky]

When we get big eggs it's normally a double yolk. We've only had 2. And both we'r at the beginning of the girls starting to lay. I would be interested to find out what the eggs like inside.

 

[mcbrown7513]

I have only one girl that is ok with being held. (we got all of them well after hatching) She does that dark to pale comb and wattle trick as well.

 

[BBQ2U]

??? I would be more concerned about the comb shrinking in size. I am putting colloidal on my Road Island, because it looks a little smaller, but it was pale. My rule of thumb is if what I am giving to them, or applying to them can have adverse effects I want to know exactly what I have going on. But with the case of applying colloidal, there is no adverse effects, and only beneficial. As for applying Poultry Booster, it's really cold out and the wind chill has affected them. Again, it's just a booster and no adverse effects. As for the Dewormer we use from The Poultry Store, we do that Fall and Spring no matter what, and we continue with a maintenance dose 2 a month Again, it can't hurt. As for Diatomaceous earth, we always use that in their dusting box, and it get's sprinkled into their rooster area. Their dusting box is under the overhang and they love that all year round.
None of these things are invasive. But if it is a case of ring worm it would appear on their combs as pale combs with a mottled whitish appearance and it can spread to their eyes, to the flock and to humans. Addressing such appearance up front with colloidal is a step to ward off "if it is" and can't hurt even if that is not what it is. Along with other things, dehydration can cause a comb to shrink.
So, I am keeping an eye on her comb to make sure it really isn't shrinking. That would concern me a bit more, as would a change in behavior. Keep in mind that chickens usually do not show sickness until it is rather progressed. Like any bird it is a natural defense against becoming preyed upon. That is why keeping a close eye on their combs is key to keeping them in top shape.