what can cause a comb to turn blueish?

[ChickensAreSweet]

Update on Lilly Underfoot.
She is looking better today. 4 days after deworming and finally her comb is looking less blue. She is more active today as well.
I assume it is because she is getting more oxygen in the blood or circulation is improving.
I am very thankful for the help I have gotten and all the great information here at BYC.
I really thought she was a goner.
I plan on doing the second dose on the 10th day and again in the fall with valbazen.
I will look for the avian super pack in the morning. I did give them the vitamin B12 that I have day before yesterday. Lilly was not pleased.
Tomorrow they all will get some yogurt with oatmeal for their treat.

Great thanks go to Judy and Carafarmgirl for all the info. I think it has really helped Miss Lilly.

I am so glad to hear that she is getting better!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Two days ago Lilly took a turn for the worse.
Tomorrow I will have to suck it up and cull her.
It will not be an easy thing for me to do.

Any tips on how to handle putting an end to her suffering?

I have not had to cull before and would like it to be quick for her.

 

[littlelizzy123]

I'm so sorry.

There are a lot of folks on here who have given good advice about that sort of thing. There is the axe which if done right is very quick. You could slit the throat, but I feel this takes longer and the time the chicken is conscious before they die is too long for me. The broomstick method is a good one too. It is the same way you would dispatch a shot pheasant. In the field, you would step on the head and pull sharply. VERY sharply. Sometimes the head will come off, but that is better than not pulling hard enough. With your chicken, instead of stepping on the head, put a broomstick right behind the head, and hold it with your feet, or have someone hold the broomstick down, and pull on the chicken's feet hard. Kind of a quick, sharp pull, like you are pull starting a lawnmower. I would think that a quick chop with a very sharp hatchet or the broomstick method would be best.

Here's a thread to help you make your decision.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/730431/whats-the-most-humane-way-to-kill-a-chicken