What's Wrong With Ginger?

[Padfoot417]

Hey all
I'm getting worried about Ginger,my Buff Orpington hen.
Lately her comb has started to turn purple,and it feels cold.
She's still eating and drinking normally and seems to be normal otherwise.

 

[beckyjeff]

When mine have this I put some Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on it? but that is when they get cold and its caused by Frost bite, but not sure this is what is wrong with your chicken?

 

[Kikiriki]

I am guessing it is too warm to be frostbite...

How old she? What is her behavior like? Her eating and drinking? Her breathing? Is poop normal? Did you check her for injuries? Bites?

The cold feel plus color change seems more to indicate a circulation problem, rather than only a problem in uptaking oxygen. This could be a heart problem like congestive heart failure, or something interferring with her circulation like a blood clot.... Does this happen with mites?

I would isolate her and keep her rested and calm until you figure it out or it resolves itself.

 

[beckyjeff]

yes it probably is too warm, mine only get this when its really cold, I forget the weather is different in the US

 

[Uniontown Poultry]

I have seen this before in some of the bigger breeds. I've had Plymouth Rocks and Jersey Giants whose combs did this, and my Delaware rooster (he is a big 9.95 lb boy) has a comb that still turns part purple sometimes, for reasons unknown, eventually fading back to normal. I would bet on a circulatory issue, but that may be applying mammalian logic to a bird system for all I know. With Hurley, I just keep an eye on him when I see his comb's gone purple, make sure he's still moving around and acting normally. I think that's the bigger health indicator most of the time. So, in short, I'm not sure why your hen has a purplish comb, but I've had many with them, and they've all lived normal lives. Hurley himself will be 5 or 6 this year, depending on who you ask.

 

[dlongterry]

Did you ever figure out what was wrong with Ginger? I have a Buff that looks the same way but otherwise acts normal.