Floppy Comb turning purple...what could be the cause?

[binza1979]

My 2 year old leghorn dominant hen hasn't been herself lately. Her comb has flopped over and the end are turning purple. She doesn't run for treats anymore. I checked her feet, and they look ok. She also had poop stuck to her feathers by her vent. What could be wrong? How can I help her?

 

[klmclain1]

Has she been laying?
Have you checked her thoroughly for lice or mites?
When was the last time you wormed her and with what?

 

[Chicky Babe]

Idk I am new to chickens. But bless her heart she looks like she feels horrible! Hope someone can help you soon!

 

[TwoCrows]

There is a disease that causes blue comb. Antibiotics can help with it. Has she stopped laying? Check for mites at the vent...this will cause her comb to turn blue. Also, heart conditions will cause blue combs.

 

[fishnet1971]

binza, i have a hen exactly the same way as your girl. She is older and is past laying. She has done this twice. first time she had diareah as well pretty bad. I am thinking the dia. dehydrated her, thus the comb is not getting held up. She drank a TON of water when coersed into it. She was not eating well at all, fluffed up, same as yours. Not running for treats where she would normally take your hand off. I put her on yogurt, warm mash (water and crumbles mixed) I did not see any evidence of mites, worms, etc. She took aboaut 3 days and seemed to improve and was fine. I really thought i was going to loose her. She looked miserable as well. THis was about a month ago.

She started doing the same thing again two days ago. She seems to be having a hard time breathing as well when at rest. I have started the same routine. extra extra EXTRA liquids for the runny poo and dehydration - comb seems to be perking back up. yogurt, some nutridrench helped as well. Comb is still blue like yours. on the edge. She recently had gotten a lot of peanuts as treats too- wondered if this might have had some cause? dunno.

I have heard that the blue comb is a lack of circulation as well. My roo will have his tips do the blue thing off and on. It used to scare me really bad, but after a year it comes and goes and he is a healthy active boy so i dont worry about it.

i use Ivarmec Ivermectin from Tractor Supply on the back of the girls for the worms and lice/mites as a preventitive. Keep her well hydrated! try some extra nutrition in scrambled eggs, yogurt, nutridrench, mush etc. keep her warm and dry. I put her butt in the sink and washed off the poo and blowed dry afterwards. the warm dryer seemed like heaven to her. THEN I saw she was molting - new feathers coming in all over. any coincidence? Not sure as well.

Keep us posted on your girl and good luck! She looks really healthy as well except for the blue on the comb.

Welcome to the site!

 

[binza1979]

Thank you for your replies. We cleaned her up, trimmed off the feathers around her vent. There is no signs of worms or mites. It got really hot really fast, so I think she may have been dehydrated a bit. She is inside now resting. She has been eating some medicated chick starter (we currently have chicks in the brooder) and water with vitamins in it. She seemed much better this morning. I think we'll continue a few day of this and see if she improves.

As far as I know, she have been laying. We have two leghorns and their eggs look very similar and we have been getting white eggs. I will have to keep better track once she returns to her peers.

 

[fishnet1971]

how is she doing?

My MayMay seems to finally kicked what ever it was. Her comb turned back to partially red, then fully red a few days later. Last night it was starting to perk back up and full color again. She is clucking like a broody almost. eating finally as well and picking the grass. Diahreah has almost stopped, but not all the way. I am thinking she had a 'bug' so to speak. I really pushed the liquids with her and think that really really helped.

would be nice if that's all it is with your girl!

 

[binza1979]

She is doing better. A couple days inside and she seems fine. She is back in with the flock and being her chickeny self!

 

[fishnet1971]

awesome!! glad to hear it

 

[Geezerloca]

My 2 year old leghorn dominant hen hasn't been herself lately. Her comb has flopped over and the end are turning purple. She doesn't run for treats anymore. I checked her feet, and they look ok. She also had poop stuck to her feathers by her vent. What could be wrong? How can I help her?

We are seeing similar in our chickens. Need help