Pale wattles/combs

[eoz]

Hello, my hen started laying eggs a few days ago and since then we have noticed her wattles and combs are paler than before. Her behavior is normal - she is eating/drinking/stooling fine. Just not sure what that cause it. She is a 19 week old olive Egger. Here are some pictures. This is her third day of laying and next to her sister which has the same color wattle/combs she had prior to laying. Any ideas? I’m new at this.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I wouldn't worry if she's fine otherwise. My active layer has a paler comb and face than her sister (who isn't quite laying yet). I don't know if they get a big hormone surge right before they lay, which causes a redder face, and then that sort of tapers off afterwards.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I would not worry as long as she is acting OK. Most pullets and hens will have a brighter red comb when they are laying or getting ready to lay, but most does not mean all. I can understand from reading some of the posts on this forum where that might worry you but a paler comb does not mean that anything is wrong with her.

I do not know what caused hers to go paler when she started laying. If I observed that I'd watch her behaviors and poop to see if anything was wrong. You are doing that, good! Check her poop for signs of worms. Check her for mites or lice. You should be doing that anyway on a regular basis. But I do not expect you to find anything wrong. When dealing with living animals you do not get guarantees. Lots of different things can happen.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

What percent protein is her feed? If she’s on 16% layer feed, she might appreciate some supplementary protein, especially animal protein (fish, eggs, ground beef, insects, etc.)

She’s probably fine, but I look at my laying pullets (now 7 1/2 months old) as teenaged mothers. Their bodies are still growing, AND they’re creating and laying eggs. Optimizing their nutrition is my goal at this stage.

 

[eoz]

What percent protein is her feed? If she’s on 16% layer feed, she might appreciate some supplementary protein, especially animal protein (fish, eggs, ground beef, insects, etc.)

She’s probably fine, but I look at my laying pullets (now 7 1/2 months old) as teenaged mothers. Their bodies are still growing, AND they’re creating and laying eggs. Optimizing their nutrition is my goal at this stage.

Honestly, we weren’t expecting them to lay this early, so they have been on starter feed, which has 18% protein. We started mixing in the layer feed with that starter which also has 18% protein when we noticed her laying. That mixing is due to the fact that our other two are not laying yet. We will try to feed her an egg and see what happens!

 

[Mrs. K]

If the comb turns blue, then pale pink again, fluctuating that can indicate a heart problem.

Truthfully, though, I would not change her feed or give her an egg. She is acting normal, and I think she is fine. Once they are laying, the hormone level falls a bit, it was needed to get her to laying, but not as much is needed as now she is considered an adult.

No need to fret over this.

Mrs K

 

[McChooky]

Hello, my hen started laying eggs a few days ago and since then we have noticed her wattles and combs are paler than before. Her behavior is normal - she is eating/drinking/stooling fine. Just not sure what that cause it. She is a 19 week old olive Egger. Here are some pictures. This is her third day of laying and next to her sister which has the same color wattle/combs she had prior to laying. Any ideas? I’m new at this.

I have a sapphire gem has a pale comb.Its always been lighter than the other rhens and stands out.My barred rock has the brightest red comb.Beautiful color.