White Leghorns head feathers turned purple overnight

[nateritz]

Hi, I just noticed that two of my white leghorns head/neck feathers turned dark purple overnight. We have 8 chickens, and these two are still bearing the brunt of being the two newbies, bottom of the pecking order. Is it just that they are being pecked? Or is this avian flu? They still act normal, not lethargic, eating like normal, skittish as always.

I'm new at this so pardon my ignorance. Thanks!

 

[Brahma Mamma]

I don't know about the feathers changing color. I post pictures through photobucket.com. Upload the photos to photobucket then copy the image information that starts with <img>. There's 4 choices of image copy. I'll be interested to know the rest of the story!

 

[Matt A NC]

It's dried blood. If you look at the black edge of the comb you can see where the comb was nipped by someone else. Drip of blood, a few head slings, and you get a purple headed chicken.

Matt

 

[drumstick diva]

I agree it's blood - you need to put the bad guys in time out for a few days to hopefully take them down a peg or two.