Pale comb

[clanpowell]

One of my chickens' comb has gone very pale. Checked her over and everything else is fine. She's eating and behaving normally. Neither have laid all winter since their mault. They are Light Sussexs and they are 3 years old. Any ideas, should I be worried?

[red]

might be worth checking for red mite - they live in the house not on the hens. run a tissue along the perch and look for red - ie blood.

[clanpowell]

might be worth checking for red mite - they live in the house not on the hens. run a tissue along the perch and look for red - ie blood.

I tried this this morning and found nothing

[red]

prolly not that then.

[lunalucy]

I would suggest going for Flubenvet rather than VermX - Flubenvet is a broad spectrum wormer whereas VermX doesn't help to eradicate gape worm. I think it's OK as a general preventative treatment but Flubenvet twice a year is a must (in my opinion) :)

Sometimes combs go pale when chickens aren't in lay... (their legs also go whiter if they're 'red hens', and then more yellow when they're back in lay). Might be worth checking her crop to see if it's emptying properly, her undercarriage for swelling and that her poo is normal - those along with a pale floppy comb are usually the first signs that something isn't right. Hope she's on the mend x