Floppy comb

[pinklily]

Feel free to moan if I'm appearing thick
Although we've had 4 ex batteries for 3 years I've only recently took over their care - son got them then got a bit bored with them and his job took over his life!! Hubby took over then but didn't really want to and it showed grrrrrrr
Anyways the last 8 months they've been my flock and I've tried to research as I go
I don't know how old the 4 ex batts are - my last 2 additions are 22 weeks now
One of the ex batts (Sadie) has a floppy comb the other are bright red and very turgid - Sadie's is a deeper red almost claret and quite floppy with white speckles on
She seems in good health - out and about trashing the garden with the others goes mad for the veg and fruit I put out along with the others I've seen her drinking and eating their pellets
I just wondered if it was an age thing cos she looks older in her face than the other 3 batts
Also just might be interesting when we had 4 we only ever got 3 eggs a day now I've her 2 new ones we're getting 5 so IMO the new 2 are laying and one of the batts isn't
And I'm reading on they threads about hens laying more than once a day what am I doing wrong to only get 1 off each?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Some breeds have floppy combs in the hens (Leghorns, for example). Other breeds - you may see a floppy comb in just one individual but not the others- and it is OK- they have more comb and it flops.

As long as the comb color is good- not pale or purple- or blackened etc.- it is just fine.

During molt combs may shrivel and become pale but that is OK- should be just temporary.

Mites/lice/worms can make combs turn bad colors, as can other illnesses.

 

[pinklily]

That's brilliant thank you - I'll check the white bits aren't mites and keep a close eye on it - she's seems in good health and after I wrote the post I was out there cleaning them and watched her till she pooped and that seems the same as the others poops - hubby ( Bri) thinks I'm nuts following her round till she pooped and then comparing it to the others but as I said he's not keen on them and only involves himself when I nag ( I'm good at nagging )

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

That's brilliant thank you - I'll check the white bits aren't mites and keep a close eye on it - she's seems in good health and after I wrote the post I was out there cleaning them and watched her till she pooped and that seems the same as the others poops - hubby ( Bri) thinks I'm nuts following her round till she pooped and then comparing it to the others but as I said he's not keen on them and only involves himself when I nag ( I'm good at nagging

)

LOL following her around until she pooped

 

[pinklily]

LOL following her around until she pooped

Girls gotta do what a girls gotta do

 

[cafarmgirl]

It is funny and you know what? Most of us here have gone on poop patrol on many an occasion when we are suspicious about a chickens health!

As far as chickens laying more then one egg a day? It can happen, I've had it happen, once, in many years of chicken keeping but it's certainly not the norm. If you are getting an egg a day from these girls that is excellent. Many older hens cut back to every second or third day, or less! Although I have a couple 5 year old birds, one lays every day, the other every other day. Just depends on the bird, it's health and nutrition.

 

[pinklily]

Think if they did lay more I'd be over run - I don't eat eggs or chicken since I went to a battery farm !!!!!!! Everyone else in the house does
I was just wondering if I was messing up some where because they only have "bog standard" layers pellets and scraps from prepping veg mash potatoes/peelings (cooked) bread fruit and whatever veg item is on the discount shelf at the supermarket and what ever they dug up in what's left of the garden ( they ate no.2 sons raspberry bushes oooppppssss) they never have anything fishy or been in touch with meat
So I wondered if I'd missed something