Comb Lightening - nutritional deficiency?

[WildflowerJLH]

A couple of my hens have been losing color in their combs/wattles. Is this a nutritional deficiency? Seems like the color of their eggs has gotten lighter, too.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Can be, what are you feeding them and how old are they?

Chris

 

[WildflowerJLH]

They are 9-10 months old. They eat Magill Ranch starter, cut with 2# of wheat/barley to 5# of feed. They are free range in our yard, almost an acre. They get scraps. We have recently started feeding our dog indoors, as the chickens like to eat his dry food.

 

[schellie69]

If they are laying I would have them on a layer feed. Have you checked for mite/lice? I would also offer oyster shell or crushed egg shells for calcium

 

[WildflowerJLH]

Oyster shell is offered freely. We also clean and grind the eggshells to give back to them. They are not on a layer feed, since we have a mixed flock. I don't want the calcium in their feed.

 

[elmo]

Are these hens laying, or are they going broody? A broody hen's comb will go pale. Molting can also cause similar changes.

 

[WildflowerJLH]

Quote:
Broody, not that I have noticed. Can birds go broody in their first year of laying? The birds in question are hatchery Partridge Rocks. Everyone laid yesterday (8 hens, 8 eggs). They only started laying in February of this year.

Basically, it sounds like this is not a reason for alarm by itself. I will keep an eye on everyone to make sure I don't see any other problems.

 

[chickendude]

I would suggest layer feed. I use it on my mixed flock an they all do well on it. Don't use for chicks. They would need starter only.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
x 2
It sounds to me like they are suffering from a nutritional deficiency.
Your hens need to be on a layer feed in order to get the proper nutrition that their bodies need.
All of my chickens, including the roos, eat the layer ration, and I have 2 chickens that are 9.