Pale combs?

[CroChelle]

Some of my hens I've noticed have pale combs.. a light pink instead of the bright red they should be.
What does this mean?

 

[Sylvestor12]

Well a reason for that means they might not be laying.

 

[CroChelle]

All are laying except for maybe one. Not all lay every day... some do. But I think I only have one that isn't laying at all.

 

[annaewart]

Any things can cause pale combs.

Young birds have that pale look before they mature, with a nice reddening of the comb signalling a pullet coming into lay.
Birds gone off the lay, for a moult particularly, will present with pale combs usually, or at least pale-ish...
And i have noticed, at least in my experience, that a broody goes a bit pale (obviously as its hard work) but the false broody (sitting on no eggs or infertile eggs) tends to be paler, than one that is hatching some chickies... but as i said, that is just my experience.
A hen will 'redden' up upon seeing a rooster and I also have this 'belief' that a hen laying fertile eggs has a redder comb than a hen laying infertiles... but it could be my imagination too so its not something i would ever call fact..
These are all caused by hormonal changes.

Temperature can also cause pale combs. In hot weather, the birds can go a bit pale, like we humans feeling a bit faint.

Stress too, causes pale combs.

Anemia is also another factor that brings about pale combs, but this is on the more extreme pale side, and they really don't look well... along with other things.

... anything too pale and i would suggest they are a little under the weather.
But a a gentle paling of the comb is normal enough.. i tend to think that 'pale comb season' is a good time to supplement their feed as they possibly need a bit of a boost. But moulting, off the lay birds will be paler than normal no matter what you put in their feed, as it is a very trying time on their bodies, so don't be concerned.

Hope that helps.

 

[Travchix]

hello i have an americana girl thats black and i just bought her and the comb is really pale and she seems sick is this just beciase i introduced her to a new flock? what can i do to help?

 

[DemonicJessica]

I have an ameraucana hen, her comb is pale, and she hasn't layed any eggs for a week so far and she is only a year old. I don't know if she is going to molt or what. Please help, me find out why?

 

[Zores Mother]

Thank you for the information. I noticed one of my girls comb was pale yesterday and was worried

until I read this and some other articles.

 

[EvelynM]

Thanks so much for this. One of my chickens had a pale comb and I was getting worried. :/

 

[Elainz]

Yes I agree ~~my girls that are molting and have pale combs, I've put vitamins w/ electrolytes in their water to help them through this stressful time, and no they are not laying .

 

[Elainz]

addimg a chicken to the already established flock can be very stressful to the bird, this def could be your problem, how are the other hens taking to her and treating her?