Pale comb - what does it mean

[mithious]

You can feed the start grow up to POL ( point of lay ), Then you really should switch over to the all flock, some feed stores call is same flock I think? Ask your feed store guy/gal...they should know what you are talking about, even if it is called something else.Just let them know all the details, especially that you have layers and a roo that are all eating same feed. Could you find someone with younger chicks that would buy the start grow off you? Unless you still have young un's that need it?

How high is the protein in the game bird? The all flock is 18%. Does the GB have calcium also? Just curious...I would ask your feed store, if it were me..mine are very knowledgeable and I can trust what they recommend!

Try to get them on a feed that is for the whole flock and more geared to their age, as soon as possible and keep doing what you are, with the oyster shells provided seperate! If they are free ranged, you shouldn't need the grit, unless for some reason, you have all loam? I do throw a bit of grit in my lots run, as they are confined to that area, so I think they could use a little extra grit on the ground..if/when I free range, I will not be buying the grit...but this lot is only about 2 months old, and in my area, with all the predators, too young to be out and about!

Well, yeah on the medicated, since you have chickens laying...another reason to see if someone can buy what you have left and change them over to an age and gender appropriate feed. Can you put up a note at the grocery, or other places to see if anyone is interested in the feed? Or maybe a local farmer friend?

Hope you can get this sorted out soon, best of luck with it all!!!

 

[chooks4life]

Quote: If it was outright kidney failure he would die very quickly. But kidney damage can keep an animal in a low state of health for a long time, even permanently. He wouldn't necessarily show typical illness symptoms with it either. I don't know for sure what he's got though, it was just a suggestion.

General symptoms of kidney deficiency, failure, damage, etc can be very subtle, and in acute failure there may be none. He doesn't have that though, or he'd already be dead. In general looking dehydrated when there is no cause for it is a good sign, and there might be some sign in his poop but then again there might be none. The skin around his eyes is quite shrunken inwards and that's one common symptom of kidney issues. Kidney damage results in pain more often than looking sick and chickens are very good at soldiering on and hiding pain. I would compare him to others in the flock as this will help point out any changes which aren't due to the breed.

As others have said there could be various reasons behind his unwell appearance. Good to cover all bases.

Edit: do you have oxalis around your place? That causes kidney damage.

Quote: If an animal's comb shows any blueness when they're excited/stressed this is a symptom of cardiac insufficiency, it is not actually normal in a healthy bird. I would guess it's normal (not natural though) for a rooster raised on layer with the cardiac damage that often results from that diet. It's normal for them to die of a heart attack in that case, too. What we are taught is normal is often a sub-par state of health, i.e. disease, which may indeed be normal but is not good nor natural.

Symptoms of kidney failure can be nonexistent or very slight, depending on what causes it. The severely shriveled comb, skin of his face, etc could be symptoms, but then again that might not be it at all. It's just one theory. My chooks never had wilting combs when moulting, but some people's chooks do. I believe it's diet based.

 

[Fluffychicky]

@chooks4life Thank you for your description, I dewormed them and his comb is still pale but perking up a bit and he crowed two days ago for the first time in a long time! I will continue to keep an eye on him and switch over to the all flock feed.

 

[chooks4life]

Best wishes and I hope he recovers. We may never know for sure what's gone wrong or what went right, if it does fix up completely. If he does die, if he was mine, I'd post mortem him thoroughly and find out what was affected, lest it occur to another chook, or the whole flock, leaving me none the wiser. But here's hoping he doesn't die.

In modern medicine we are taught the blanket statement that 'kidneys never heal' but that is simply not true. In the past our ancestors knew what to use to repair kidneys. I've had nearly failed kidneys as a child and am living proof it's not always a guaranteed failure just because of damage. Healing can and does occur in the right circumstances. There is nothing that cannot be cured, it is simply a case of us not having found the cures for some things yet... Or, even worse, having found them, and discarded them as 'old wives' tales' --- many of which science is now 'discovering' are true. Go figure.

 

[Fluffychicky]

UPDATE
Good news everyone! *Professor Farnsworth voice*
Napoleon is making a great recovery he's been crowing A LOT and his comb is perking right back up!
Thank you all so much for your suggestions and lessons on how to worm chickens!

 

[chooks4life]

Good to hear, thanks for the update. Best wishes.

 

[casportpony]

Good to hear, thanks for the update. Best wishes.

X2!

-Kathy

 

[R.M.Qureshi]

We have a proven herbal remedy here in PK.
Feed them two cloves of garlic every day till cure.
Do not use knife to peel off skin. use bare hands only . Feed them as you feed capsule just slide it in. Clove should be not too big not too small.


Rehan M

 

[Fluffychicky]

We have a proven herbal remedy here in PK.
Feed them two cloves of garlic every day till cure.
Do not use knife to peel off skin. use bare hands only . Feed them as you feed capsule just slide it in. Clove should be not too big not too small.


Rehan M

That sounds like a good idea garlic has so many beneficial uses, I may start feeding them some, thank you for the advice!

 

[Isabrown13134]

I have a year old isa brown with the same problem. She also never goes near the other chickens or wants to move around. She was fine until a few months ago though! I can't figure out what it is