Purple comb

[ChickenCrazy8]

My RIR comb the very back is sometimes purple. Currently my chickens are free ranging and she's running around like usual. Should I be worried? Or just keep an eye on her.
Thanks!

 

[Mrs. K]

I am not a vet, but I have had this happen when my birds were getting elderly. An older chicken lady with a lot more experience than I will ever had, told me it was the beginning signs of heart failure.

Every time it has happened to mine, it does just like you say, comes and goes at first. It will be just a little blue, then red back up, but usually within a month they are dead.

Mrs K

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

That's pretty horrible! Is there anything I could do? She is two years old at this point in time. Do you know if it is painful? Thanks!!

 

[Mrs. K]

no, I don't think it is painful, I think it is more like fatigue. Most chickens do not live real long lives, anything 3 or over, I would consider quite old, and while I have read of chickens living much longer, mine never have.

I think it is just an effect of them getting elderly.

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

Okay. Thanks for the info!!!

 

[Wyandotte96]

She probably has frost bite in the back of her comb. My rhode island red bantam breeding cock has that to.

 

[Mrs. K]

frostbite does not come and go and come back.

I have had frostbite combs, but I think the op is saying that the color of the comb is not bright red, but rather a bluish color, that comes and goes.

Mrs K

 

[Quailsong]

Sounds like heart issues. Some chickens are prone to it early in their adult lives, esp the faster-to-mature breeds. I would not consider heritage breeds at 2 years old to be elderly, but a cross-bred/modified fast grower will have more issues trying to live more than a few years. It also depends on your feed, how much exercise they're getting every day, etc.

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

Sounds like heart issues. Some chickens are prone to it early in their adult lives, esp the faster-to-mature breeds. I would not consider heritage breeds at 2 years old to be elderly, but a cross-bred/modified fast grower will have more issues trying to live more than a few years. It also depends on your feed, how much exercise they're getting every day, etc.

I let my chickens free range everyday. But said hen has always been kind of 'chunky'.
Thanks again for the info everyone!

 

[Vegan]

I have an ex-battery hen, and I think her comb has been going slightly purple. I wonder if I am overfeeding her? The vet said they were underweight, but they've been eating all day long (laying mix, 16% crumble/mash, plus occasional treats). She tends to have alternating firm and loose stools, and sometimes I hear a sound when she breathes, but only when she is inside the house and everything is quiet, but I don't hear it all the time, and I don't hear the other hen make that sound, although it is hard to tell which hen is making the sound.