No comb, ear lobe color change

[N8than]

Hi!
i have a flock of hens, 14, 2 are red sex links about 3 years old, remaining are about a year old, varying breeds (the person who sold them to me was less informed than they indicated). Noticed the other day that it really has no comb and even the ear lobs have lost color. There soesnt seem to be any bullying or anything of that sort. All other hens seem bright and healthy. Anyone oave any insight? Thanks.

 

[Phoenixxx]

That is quite a proper comb, actually; it is a pea comb. This comb type is actually linked with the blue egg gene (although not all breeds with a pea comb lay blue), so you may find yourself getting blue, green or olive eggs from her

 

[Phoenixxx]

When you say earlobes have lost colour, do you mean the fact that they are bright white? This is normal; it just means that she will most likely lay a white or a blue/green egg, whereas most chickens that lay brown eggs have red earlobes.

 

[N8than]

Great information, thank you. I believe the breed to be Austolorp and we bought about 8 of them. All the others have big red combs and red ear lobes. this is the only bird with the brown feathers, the other onse have a greeen/blue tint. I am getting a green egg or two a day, I chalked it up to the other birds with the other color feathers.

 

[Phoenixxx]

She is what is called an "Easter egger". There are a few pure breeds that lay blue eggs, but when those are crossed to either white or brown layers, the mixed-breed offspring are called Easter Eggers (green, pink eggs) or olive Eggers (darker green/olive-coloured eggs).

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Noticed the other day that it really has no comb and even the ear lobs have lost color.

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

That bird is an Easter Egger cross... (modified not exactly correct) pea comb, beard (actually inhibits wattle size verses clean faced birds)... those aren't exactly white lobes... but also not red.. why I say cross. Maybe EE x Australorp if that's what you were sold.

The feathers appear to be in good condition as do the shanks. The lobe color and comb size are normal. The redness of comb is indicative of hormone level.. sometimes they have random drops for no reason... maybe genetics.