Hens comb white/grey

[crowthechicken]

Hey Guys!
This is my first time posting on here! We have a flock of 40+ chickens along with some tirkeys, ducks, and guineas, but we have one hen (a very special hen) who lives in the house with us. She's been a house hen for quite some time, she has a little chicken diaper that she wears and she hangs out with the dogs and I inside. I do let her outdoors but only when I can monitor her, as the other chickens don't fancy her too well.
Crow (our house hen) stopped laying eggs just over a year ago. She's going on 4 now, and she's always been a VERY laid back and relaxed chicken. However I have noticed within the past 6 months or so her comb has turned whiteish/grey. I'm not quite sure if it's just dry skin, or something else. I'd find it hard to believe that she has any parasites, but I suppose she could have picked something up outdoors. Her poop ranges from normal chicken poop (solid) to sometimes watery, but I also believe that is based on what she eats (whether she only has chicken food for a day, or she gets lots of fruit and veggie snacks). I will attach some pictures for you all to see. She does seem to be a bit slower lately, but it's been real hot here, and she's getting older, so I don't know if it's associated with the grey comb or not. Any input will be super appreciated!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings crowthechicken,

Your hen appears to have a yeast/fungus infection. There are many species of pathogenic fungi that affect the featherless skin of chickens. And sometimes, other parts of the body can be affected. Do examine the chicken's neck for missing feathers and honeycombed skin.

In severe cases, the yeast can spread over the entire comb, face and wattles. Some yeasts/fungi have a powdery look and some are crusty white, yellowish or grayish.

A keeper has to attend to this infection quickly, as it can spread internally. Sometimes to the respiratory system, and can make the bird very sick. This is one of the more stubborn infections to treat, and will take some time. You have to be ready to try different remedies.

Another thing to be aware of, is that these organisms exist in all environments. When a chicken becomes infected it can indicate that there is another illness, weakening the chicken's immune system. So, just be vigilant of any other symptoms, like coughing, wheezing, crop problems, etc.

Treatment:
The most common treatment is Miconazole Nitrate 2%, which is the active ingredient in many over the counter anti-fungal cream medications, sold in stores.

If you don't see improvement with the Miconazole Nitrate, in a week, then I suggest switching to Colloidal Silver. I have found Colloidal Silver to be highly effective when other treatments have failed. You can put 8 ounces of water in a spray bottle and add 2 drops of colloidal silver. Then, spray the hen's comb to saturate it. Do this 3-4 times a day for the first few days, then a spritz twice a day will do. It usually takes 2-3 weeks to kill the yeast.

Colloidal Silver comes in different strengths, I use 1100 ppm, which is the most potent concentration. The bottle will last years, since you only need to dilute a single drop or two into some water. But, they also sell low concentrations.

A dose of poultry vitamins, and probiotics would beneficial. I would also increase the chicken's protein by feeding her some cooked meats, vegetables which you already do is also good. Keep fruits to a minimum, for a few weeks, as, yeasts/fungi thrive with high sugar diets.


These are my thoughts on your hen's issue. I hope they are helpful.

God Bless