Pale/Floppy Comb of Death? Please help!

[OrganicLoving]

Hi all,

I only got my two hens this year and am not too sure what is wrong with one of them.

Please see pictures below of my girl Midnight. The left is a picture of her normal. The right is a picture of her comb in the past few weeks. It is not as red, and floppier. She also hasn't lost weight, it's just the way I am holding her and the angle.

She is eating normally, however has not been laying since the weather has started to get cooler (I am in an Australian winter).

Should I be concerned? How can I fix this?

Thanks, all help is appreciated!

 

[BantamLover21]

How long do you think she hasn't been laying? Combs tend to get less red and change shape once a bird stops laying. She looks fine to me.

 

[CMV]

How long do you think she hasn't been laying? Combs tend to get less red and change shape once a bird stops laying. She looks fine to me.

Agree. Her comb will get- not smaller, but more compact looking- and pale when she goes out of lay for whatever reason. Since you are in the middle of winter, I am betting she isn't getting as much light as is needed for egg laying. Her hormones have kicked her out of the egg laying cycle, and have led to the physical manifestations you are seeing.

That being said, I like to check my birds over for bugs right around this time of my winter. I find that as soon as the weather gets cold and the birds are hanging out in the coop more, this is about the time that if anyone has bugs then everyone has bugs. A heavy parasite load can cause a bird to look a bit pale, too.

 

[OrganicLoving]

Thank you! I didn't know they could change with egg laying. Winter started officially in June, but it was getting colder before then so maybe 2-3 months now.

 

[OrganicLoving]

Thanks for letting me know! I've been checking her for any parasites but I can't see any, her feathers seem normal, and I clean out the coop every couple of weeks