Pale comb and not interested in treats anymore.

[eggselant]

I am fairly new to raising chickens and I am now having my first issue with one of my hens. She is a buff orpington and she is a little over 1 year old. Recently her comb has started to become more and more pale as the weeks go on. And now she is not interested in treats anymore. We feed our girls treats everyday, watermelon, mixed seeds, mealworms, torn up bread.ect. She used to get just as excited as all the other girls. Now she just stands there and watches everyone else eat. She is still eating and drinking in the run, but is just not acting like herself anymore, especially when they free range during the day.
I live in NC, but it has not been overly hot, been in the low 80s. This has been going on for about a month. Anyone ever encounter something like this? Is she getting sick? What can I do to help her?

 

[sunflour]

Pale combs can be due to broodiness, anemia and other causes.

You state she is eating food, drinking water - good signs.

How is she acting differently when the others range? Is she sitting a nest?

Have you examined her closely for signs of illness or parasites?

* my concern would be no interest in treats…my frequently broody BO gals still want treats even with broody attitudes. But I do have one BR that has become picky about which treats she prefers….indifferent to things she used to covet…holds out for those she loves.

 

[eggselant]

She is not broody. She doesn't spend too much time inside the coop. Most of her day is spent wandering around inside the run or wandering the yard and pecking at grass when we let them out into the yard for some freedom. I will look her over again for parasites tonight before they go to sleep. I have to wait until the evening because she is not a big fan of being picked up or touched.
Is there any specific things I should be looking for?

 

[sunflour]

It will be easier to examine her at nite.

Check out this site: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

And this one for how to do a chicken physical: http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0020.html

If all looks ok, and she continues to eat and drink and forage, then I would just watch her. If she does start to act ill then be more aggressive, talk to a vet.