Black comb

[charlielavin]

Hello

A few months ago I was here about my CLB, well she's turned into a bit of a problem hen. She was sleeping a lot but still laying the occasional egg, and she seemed happy enough. Just over the last couple of days she's stopped eating and I've noticed her comb is going black. She has had lice recently, but its not little black dots its large areas of it.

Any ideas? I will take her to the vets but would be interested to see if anyone has seen anything like this.

Charliex

 

[Tim]

Hi Charlie,

Chickens have very high blood pressure and if they get poor circulation / illness that causes the blood pressure to decrease, their combs can turn blue - usually the tips on Cockerels combs are the most common. Large breeds that have been bred for size can suffer from heart attack and often their combs go blue beforehand.

Is it black, scabs or dark blue ?

I have seen a couple of hens mature and their comb darkens up - this is a colour gene / genetic but usually effects black / very dark birds, not Cream Legbars whose combs should be red (bright red when in lay).

Double check your house for Red Mite - wipe the underside of the perch with a white tissue at night and look for red blood stains. These can cause anaemia - but this usually results in a pale comb and wattles.

Tim

 

[charlielavin]

I clean the house out with poultry shield ever week, but I will check again. I've been covering her with diatom every week (to break the cycle) but she's still going down hill. Is there anything I can do for her right now as getting her to the vets on a bank holiday is proving a challenge. Thanks for the reply tim, its much appreciated!

 

[podstable]

Any chance of a pic Charlie ? Ros

 

[charlielavin]

Hello Ros,

I just went outside to get some pictures of her. On the pictures it looks purple so I'm thinking my heart or liver problems? It doesn't pick up the black ends of her comb, but they are problem a deep purple colour and I'm going colour blind.

She isn't eating anything, but lapped up the water I gave her. I also gave her some of those nutri drops a friend gave me, though I'm a bit sceptical of the claims they make on the box!

I'd be interested to know what you think.

Charliex

 

[podstable]

Poor girl , she does look fed up. To me it looks like cyanosis of the comb-- ie not enough blood/oxygen reaching the tiny blood vessels at the tip of comb . Could be due to blood vessels shutting down---as in cold temp, septicaemia etc , or lack of oxygen carried in the blood itself --as in anaemia, respiratory infection ,heart disease etc. So could be one sign of many different causes I am afraid. If she is generally unwell ,off food, fluffed up etc I think it is enough of a reason to see the vet if you feel that is indicated. Could just be a resp. infection needing a few antibios. Sorry thats not much help! Ros