Layer feed is not okay to feed when the hen has chicks. They should all be on starter/grower or "all flock." The calcium in layer is 3X what is in all flock or chick starter, and too much calcium may lead to kidney damage or gout later. It is normal for hens to lose color in the comb and wattles when they are not laying eggs--during hatching, raising chicks, and during a molt.
Ok. Sorry, you are totally true.
But our Cochins comb does go extremely extremely pale (like I said, near white) when she's sitting. It looks like a youngster whose just starting to get color in the comb. Her comb is typically bright red, but goes much paler during sitting.
She isn't sitting right now, ill check the hens in the morning, she may have mites, but no chicken has ever really been sick here nor shown lethargic-ness, nor have I seen any lice or anything (though I have found some mites, never dusted though since it was only a few on the coop and no one was sick).
Idk, if the chicken looks and acts healthy, no signs of anything wrong, I tend to just leave it be, not to mess with something that's not broken
Also, may I ask, is it even possible to get rid of mites completely? That's why I never bugged with it, chickens make a lot of dust, I'd assume there'd be some mites and bugs on them, but if they aren't acting sick why mess with it *shrug*
Eta ;;
This hen is a terrible mom and will ditch chicks the second she realizes she has them, so I've never had sick chicks from her even if she has mites
