Comb colors with calcium deficiency?

[Manedwolfy]

So, let's say you have some chickens that don't have enough calcium, so they aren't laying. You know how people say if their combs are red they are ready to lay?
Well, does that mean age or actually laying? If they aren't laying because of a calcium deficiency, would their combs still be red because they are at the age to lay? Or would they go pale because they aren't laying?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Comb color and the size of it are visual cues that tell other birds whether a bird is fertile and productive or not. Combs shrink when a hen isn't laying enlarge and brighten when they are so the rooster knows who to mate. It's about hormones, not calcium.

 

[Manedwolfy]

Alright, thank you. I wasn't really asking if they're combs will shrink/become lighter if they don't have calcium, but if their combs that were red will turn pink and such when they stop laying. Sorry if it was confusing. That still pretty much answered my question though

 

[PirateGirl]

Redder combs are more likely actually laying. This is not only because of age. For example birds in molt that are not laying will have very pale shrunken combs. Also a broody hen that is not laying may have a pale shrunken comb. A bird that is ill in any way and not laying will often have a pale comb. So yes, a bird with a large red comb is likely actively laying (or close to it).

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

A calcium deficiency doesn’t inhibit laying, but can cause the eggs to have diformities. How old are your hens?

 

[PirateGirl]

Also a bird with a calcium deficiency will often still lay, but there might be issues with the eggs, you might have thin shelled eggs that crack easily or soft shelled eggs that are rubbery, or eggs with no shell at all!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Alright, thank you. I wasn't really asking if they're combs will shrink/become lighter if they don't have calcium, but if their combs that were red will turn pink and such when they stop laying. Sorry if it was confusing. That still pretty much answered my question though

Yes combs lighten and shrink when hens go out of production. Sometimes hens will take a break from laying but their combs will stay red and bright. It's when they go out of production for an extended time like when they are molting, going broody, or sick, that's when comb shrink and lose their color.

Calcium deficiencies can cause brittle shells on eggs and muscle problems to name a few things. Sorry I got confused about your question.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As was said, a calcium deficiency doesn't affect ovulation. It will happen if the birds are sexually mature, healthy, given good nutrition and day length is increasing vs. decreasing.
If a bird is ovulating (dropping ovum into the infundibulum), eventually it will make its way to the uterus. That will require calcium to be pulled from the blood stream to build shell. A calcium deficiency after just a few eggs, will cause skeletal problems because there's not really enough calcium in the blood. During shell formation calcium is pulled from the medullary bone. That doesn't have to happen very often before there is problem in the bones.