Hens with pale combs

[Drarig99]

At least half of my hens (I have 13 hens of them) have pale combs since about 1-2 months ago: leghorns (2), lakenvelder, lavender orpington, BCM and some others. No one is molting. Thinking about worms, I gave Ivermectin to one leghorn in december with no change. On January 17th, I gave them all electrolytes for 5 days. No change. Founding rare coccidiosis in some fecal floats that I did, I started them all Amprol on January 23th. No change. It weard because my 2 roosters have bright red combs and wattles.

Beside the 2 Leghorns that are a bit more quiet than usual, all the others feels ok. Out of 13 laying hens, I pick up around 8-9 eggs each day.

I know I have Marek disease in my flock as I just received results from a necropsy. Would it be a reason why most of my hens have pales combs? Can I help them somehow? The temperature in my coop is above freezing. They all have laying food. I was wondering about giving them chicks food for a couple of weeks to increase their vitamins/mineral intake. Good or wrong idea?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I assume they stopped laying as well? Where are you located? Northern or Southern Hemisphere?
My leghorn and both of my hamburgs stopped laying over this winter as well. My silver Hamburg has picked up again. So long as they are acting normally they should be fine, and picking back up again... But keep in mind that during the winter, chickens will usually slow down or stop laying due to the shorter days.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2
It is quite common for combs and wattles to pale and shrink when days are short, even if some are still laying.
Also, I had an orpington that never acquired a bright red larger comb. However she laid quite well throughout her life.

 

[Drarig99]

I assume they stopped laying as well? Where are you located? Northern or Southern Hemisphere?
My leghorn and both of my hamburgs stopped laying over this winter as well. My silver Hamburg has picked up again. So long as they are acting normally they should be fine, and picking back up again... But keep in mind that during the winter, chickens will usually slow down or stop laying due to the shorter days.

My coop light is on 12 hours/day and yes, they lay less often than usual (they skip a day once ot twice a week). That could be the reason for their pale combs and wattles?

 

[Drarig99]

X2
It is quite common for combs and wattles to pale and shrink when days are short, even if some are still laying.
Also, I had an orpington that never acquired a bright red larger comb. However she laid quite well throughout her life.

Ok, maybe I worry too much. I'll keep an eye on them. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Look them over for evidence of mites, since that can cause anemia. I have several hens who appear pale during this winter, and they are not laying. The others of the same breed look normal and some are laying. There could be other internal issues causing the pale skin as well, but in winter it can be normal. Since you have Mareks in the flock, it can cause cancerous tumors, so that could be a possibility.

 

[Drarig99]

Look them over for evidence of mites, since that can cause anemia. I have several hens who appear pale during this winter, and they are not laying. The others of the same breed look normal and some are laying. There could be other internal issues causing the pale skin as well, but in winter it can be normal. Since you have Mareks in the flock, it can cause cancerous tumors, so that could be a possibility.

In fact, they had mites in October and I treated all my flock with dusting powder for a couple of weeks (once a week). I did have a look at a couple of them a few weeks ago and couldn't see any mite. But maybe should I look at all of them just in case. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

Mites usually need repeated treatments at 5-7 day intervals to get newly hatched eggs, and the coop bedding needs to be removed, coop and roosts treated, and new bedding replaced. Permethrin 10% concentrate, mixed by directions on label for poultry, and used in a hand sprayer works well on chickens and in coops. Permethrin dust is also available.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

they lay less often than usual (they skip a day once ot twice a week).

That's perfectly normal. Chickens are usually on a 4-6 day cycle, skipping days here or there, depending on the breed.
I'd do as above suggested and check for the recurrence of mites...