Strange Symptoms

[ChickenMama84]

I have a 2 yr old leghorn hen that I need advice on as I can’t find any one thing that explains what might be going on with her. Symptoms started off with secluding herself in the nest box in the coop during the day. Then I noticed some dirty tail feathers. Whitish yellow stuck in her feathers. Then her comb turned pure light grey. I separated her from the flock immediately. Dewormed with Valbazen. Added probiotics, electrolytes, cociddia medicine, vitamins, and apple cider vinegar to her diet. Cooked some scrambled eggs with oregano and fed daily with her regular food. She has a fantastic appetite and is drinking well. I dusted her completely with DE just in case, but saw absolutely no indication of mites or external parasites. Her poop is normal consistency and color. She has not laid an egg in 3 weeks. I soaked her bottom once in Epsom and again with Chlorhexidine which kills yeast in case the vent gleet was being caused by a yeast infection. I then used miconazole cream and applied it to the vent area. This did not seem to help as her bottom just gets messy over and over. After doing all I know to do for her, the comb starting at the base of her head started to turn back to red. Day after day the red color returned slowly making its way towards the tips. Then I was surprised to see it started to turn black at the tips and almost yellowish under the black that then fades to red And almost looks peely. All other hens are happy and healthy from her flock, so kind of perplexed with what can be wrong and what would cause this crazy comb issue. Please any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Your hen has significant frostbite on her comb, and it will become most likely, rounded off in the future. How do her feet look? Where do you live? Do you think your hen could be broody or sick? Look for pulled out feathers in her chest where she would sit on eggs. Many sick chickens will take to a nest box to separate themselves. When you stand her up, is her tail positioned downward?

I would clean up her vent area wirh a warm soak, but only if she seems strong enough. Give her some electrolytes with water, and offer some chicken feed made wet with water, cooked egg, or tuna. Canned cat food in small amounts might be offered as well. If you have pictures of her droppings if unusual, those would be good. Many hens over 2 can suffer from reproductive disorders, such as internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. Have her eggs always seemed normal?

 

[ChickenMama84]

Welcome to BYC. Your hen has significant frostbite on her comb, and it will become most likely, rounded off in the future. How do her feet look? Where do you live? Do you think your hen could be broody or sick? Look for pulled out feathers in her chest where she would sit on eggs. Many sick chickens will take to a nest box to separate themselves. When you stand her up, is her tail positioned downward?

I would clean up her vent area wirh a warm soak, but only if she seems strong enough. Give her some electrolytes with water, and offer some chicken feed made wet with water, cooked egg, or tuna. Canned cat food in small amounts might be offered as well. If you have pictures of her droppings if unusual, those would be good. Many hens over 2 can suffer from reproductive disorders, such as internal laying or egg yolk peritonitis. Have her eggs always seemed normal?

 

[MonicaWA]

Probably a liver problem. https://chickenprod.com/chicken-comb-turns-black.html

 

[ChickenMama84]

Probably a liver problem. https://chickenprod.com/chicken-comb-turns-black.html

Probably a liver problem. https://chickenprod.com/chicken-comb-turns-black.html

Probably a liver problem. https://chickenprod.com/chicken-comb-turns-black.html

Do you know what might cause that to happen? What I may need to do for her moving forward?

 

[MonicaWA]

The most common thing I can think of is Fatty Liver. What is her diet like?

 

[ChickenMama84]

The most common thing I can think of is Fatty Liver. What is her diet like?

She’s on Purina egg layer feed free choice, has scratch about 3-4 times a week, free choice oyster shell, and grit. She occasionally gets leftover of fruits, veggies, and pasta.

 

[MonicaWA]

That's pretty good. I would just stop the scratch. Some breeds are more sensitive to it than others. There are viruses that can cause liver disease, cancer, etc. Heart problems can also cause comb blackening because of lack of circulation. I guessed liver because of her messy bottom.

 

[ChickenMama84]

That's pretty good. I would just stop the scratch. Some breeds are more sensitive to it than others. There are viruses that can cause liver disease, cancer, etc. Heart problems can also cause comb blackening because of lack of circulation. I guessed liver because of her messy bottom.

Thanks so much for replying. After 4 weeks of being separated from the flock so I could monitor her and give her special care she is back with the flock. She is active and acting back to normal! Her comb is still discolored and no egg laying, but she is one happy hen. I may never know what exactly happened with her, but for now she’s enjoying life, so couldn’t ask much more than that. I appreciate the help and advice.