help with older hens neck feathers turning red

[grampadad1]

above picture at 2 years old.

I have checked all over the net with no results! Thats where i found this site and hopefully find an answer! she is a family pet that lives in our home. She is 9 yrs old and just started showing this bright reddish colouring around her neck area! Its really brightest outside especially when the sun is out! its almost a blood colour which is scary! Could blood be seeping into her feathers? Any help would be really appreciated! Its my birthday today and any good news would be great but i need to know regardless of the advice! Thanks Steve

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.

Could you post a photo? Is it possible that her feathers have just been stained by dirt or something that she ate?

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

Could you post a close-up photo of the discolored feathers? That might help us figure out what you're dealing with.

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

 

[grampadad1]

yes i will as soon as i get her up she likes to sleep in until noon or so! she is getting up there! not a spring chick anymore! thanks for the quick reply!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

X3 on getting some close up pics of the feathering. If she is not getting into something, it is possible at her age she is just showing some hidden genes and growing reddish color feathers. I have an older Black Australorp hen that has grown in black feathers with white barring on them the past 2 molts.

Very pretty bird!! Welcome to our flock!

 

[grampadad1]

I'll send a picture of her neck feathers when she gets up! she pulls nooners for the last year or so! I tried to take her picture yesterday with santa hat but she had no part of that! lol

 

[TwoCrows]

Love your avatar!! Ha!

 

[grampadad1]

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC and Happy Holidays! Can't really see anything in that picture. It is not unusual for older birds to change color somewhat/ get different colored feathers.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to backyard chickens. Wish I could answer your questions but, I am stumped myself. Do you live in a very sunny climate, where maybe it is damage from that?

Actually I hybridize house plants and this year many have wine colored markings on leaves and look awful. They are seemingly healthy and grow but, more and more of the leaf area is showing the red instead of normal green. Some plant folks have told me it is a mineral deficiency but, so far none of their remedies have worked.

I wonder if it could be some nutritional lack that your hen is experiencing. Older birds may not assimilate the benefits of their feed as well as young ones.