Face Color Changing? Urgent.

[BantyChickenLuv]

Hey,
I was recently away for a week and left my 8 chickens (4 hens, 2 pullets, and 2 Bantams) in the care of my dad. I get back yesterday and noticed what looked like dirt on my pullets and hens. I realized it was not dirt, as my hens never get their face dirty. The hens and pullets are all heathy, no mites or lice. My Batams are fine, acting as they normally do. The hens and pullets are too. The hens are ranging from a year to a year and a half. The pullets are only about 10 weeks old. They just got moved into the coop with the hens. We let them free range. Does anyone have a clue of what this might be a what causes it?

 

[Gardeningmama]

Do you use the really dark (black) mulch in your flower beds? When I work with this type my hands are stained for a long time after. The chickens would definitely be scratching and pecking in the mulch. Maybe they are just stained.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

We do not have any flowers in the back yard. My dad thinks it might be because they are digging in the ground deeper? It's just food for thought. I don't think that's the case though.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Bump.

 

[dawg53]

Chickens like to take dirt baths.

 

[terryg]

It's been really hot and one way for hens to cool off is to dig deep pits and dirt bathe down where it's damp. Because the dirt is damp it will stick to them, and yes, for awhile, they will look worse than Pig Pen from Charlie Brown. It's not only normal, but healthy! If your hens did have a color change issue you'd see it first in the comb, which would darken and shrink. If the combs looks fine, then I bet your hens are fine.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I know that. But what's on their faces isn't dirt.

 

[terryg]

Chickens get a viral disease called Fowl Pox that causes lesions. Look up photos of that.

 

[Suzierd]

Are you sure it's not lice or mites on them? Can you take a close up pic and post it?