Pale comb?

[OzarkChooks]

My 10 month old buff orpington has a noticably paler comb. It used to be bright red. She doesn't have lice and I haven't noticed any signs of worms in the flock. She mostly acts normal except she has been hanging out in the nesting box a bit more than usual. She doesn't seem to act like the other broodies have before though. Does a pale comb mean she is sick?

 

[azygous]

Pale combs are common when hormone levels fall due to short days. As long as she's not acting lethargic, poop is normal, eating and drinking okay, she's probably fine.

Keep an eye on her for a change in behavior. If she is spending a lot of time in a nest and producing no egg, check her breast for feather loss. Broodies lose feathers along their keel bone prior to going broody.

 

[OzarkChooks]

Thank you. She might be getting ready to go broody. She still lays eggs but it appears she is losing some feathers on her breast bone. Don't know why she wants to go broody in this 10 degree weather

 

[azygous]

It's hard enough trying to figure out what's in the brains of chickens, but broodies are total enigma.