Pale comb question

[aliciaFarmer]

First, this is not an emergency.

One of my buff orpingtons went broody at 5.5 month, a few weeks after she started laying. She sat for a week and then I finally got her some fertile hatching eggs because my boys weren't old enough at that point. She sat like a champ but too much so. She wouldn't get up to use the bathroom, eat or drink -- I posted about this and everyone assured me that she was getting up but then I discovered she actually wasn't. She pooped right where she sat and would only eat and drink out of my hand (try giving a chicken water out of your hand -- wasn't super successful but she wouldn't drink even if I brought the water or bowl to her). Her comb and waddle were so pale they were almost gray so I started hand feeding her hard boiled egg and peas everyday.

Fast forward to now, she had two babies hatch that are now 5 and a half weeks old. Her comb is still super pale. Being overly cautious (Or borderline paranoid), I have checked her and the babies for mites several times and they are fine. Her weight is fine and she doesn't appear to have worms or anything. Is it normal for a hen's comb and waddle to be this light after being broody? Or is it because she's just not laying right now? I'd rather be safe than sorry. I still give her and the babies egg -- every day for the first 3 weeks and every other day since, plus a bit of chicken, beef, lamb or pork here and there for mama just in case she needs iron. The meat is the only thing she will really eat in full. Everything else she gives most of to the babies.



Other than my current flock, I've probably raised 50 to 60 chickens in my life but literally never had a broody. Or a rooster. So this is all new territory to me.

 

[red horse ranch]

If her chicks are 5 1/2 weeks old then she should start thinking about laying again soon. It's normal for her comb to not have color until she is ready to lay again. I've had broody hens with chicks that were ready to lay 3 weeks after hatch. But I've also had them that would go 2 or 3 months before laying again. It sounds like your hen is pretty normal.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

If her chicks are 5 1/2 weeks old then she should start thinking about laying again soon. It's normal for her comb to not have color until she is ready to lay again. I've had broody hens with chicks that were ready to lay 3 weeks after hatch. But I've also had them that would go 2 or 3 months before laying again. It sounds like your hen is pretty normal.

That's what I was hoping. Thank you so much! That really puts my mind and heart at ease. My gut told me she was fine because she acts completely healthy and normal but I just wanted to be on the safe side since this is my first round with chicken mamahood.

 

[SueT]

It's also normal to have pale comb in winter, none of ours are laying and all have pale combs right now. She will likely wait to lay until the days get long enough.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

It's also normal to have pale comb in winter, none of ours are laying and all have pale combs right now. She will likely wait to lay until the days get long enough.

I didn't know that, thank you. Surprisingly, out of 30 girls, she's the only one with a pale comb. I've been shocked with how many new layers I've been getting despite the short days and super cold nights -- three new layers this week. If everyone else starts looking pale, I won't panic now. I really appreciate the info.

 

[Melky]

I think she will be fine. She is still a young pullet who just started laying. Some lack of coloring could be maturity and will come in later. She watch her. If behaves normal wouldn’t worry.