Pale Comb

[ChickensAreFantastic]

Hi there, I have this hen that has a pale comb. What could that mean, dehydration?

Description: Pale comb, acting normal, no droopy eyes, eating, drinking.

I don't think is a big problem, but i just wanted to make sure it isn't anything i need to worry about.

 

[sourland]

If she is molting or taking a break in her laying cycle, this may be completely normal. I would check her for parasites and the coop for the possibility of a red mite infestation.

 

[ChickensAreFantastic]

If she is molting or taking a break in her laying cycle, this may be completely normal. I would check her for parasites and the coop for the possibility of a red mite infestation.

Will Diatomaceous Earth (DE) help keep down red mites? Because i have a lot of it.

 

[sourland]

It may. I am somewhat dubious about its efficacy; although, on mites it might help.

 

[ChickensAreFantastic]

It may. I am somewhat dubious about its efficacy; although, on mites it might help.

Great! i will look into other medications. what would you use?

 

[sourland]

Red mites congregate/hide in cracks, crevices, corners and come out at night to feed. One sign of their presence is birds stamping their feet on the roosts at night. I'd locate the colonies (if there are any) and spray that immediate area with a miticide. Back in the 'old' days we used to treat their hiding places with creosote or old crankcase oil.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Pale combs can be an indication of mites but definitely check for mites first before treating. There's fowl mites (tiny black dots moving around on chicken during the day) and roost mites (active on roost bar at night). If you do have them I wouldn't fool around with DE, I'd go straight for permethrin and dust the birds down to the skin, clean out the coop completely and spray every crevice possible, and then re-treat (and possibly re-treat again) until no more sign of mites. Knowing the type of mite will help a lot in deciding when to re-treat and where to check for reinfestation.

 

[aart]

Hi there, I have this hen that has a pale comb. What could that mean, dehydration?

Description: Pale comb, acting normal, no droopy eyes, eating, drinking.

I don't think is a big problem, but i just wanted to make sure it isn't anything i need to worry about.

Is she laying?
A pic would help here.

Pale combs can be an indication of mites but definitely check for mites first before treating. There's fowl mites (tiny black dots moving around on chicken during the day) and roost mites (active on roost bar at night). If you do have them I wouldn't fool around with DE, I'd go straight for permethrin and dust the birds down to the skin, clean out the coop completely and spray every crevice possible, and then re-treat (and possibly re-treat again) until no more sign of mites. Knowing the type of mite will help a lot in deciding when to re-treat and where to check for reinfestation.

Excellent post!


My Bug Check notes:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[Mrs. K]

If they are acting normal, I don't worry about them too much.