Pea Comb Getting Bigger?

[New Chicken Farmer]

We have a hen who is about 1.5 years old. She is a mixed breed we got from the local feed store, and has been in our flock for about 8 months. She's had a pea comb since we got her, and was on the bottom of the pecking order. We had a small, stable flock and recently added 3 more hens. We've been slowly integrating the new guys, and have noticed that our hen with the pea comb is becoming more assertive and moving her way up in the flock. We've also noticed that her pea comb is getting larger and starting to thin out a bit, almost like a tiny single comb. Is this normal?

 

[Mrs. K]

I am not quite sure why, but we as humans rather expect things to stay the same, and really they don't. Sometimes, after a molt, there is a change in the pattern of some or all of the feathers. I, myself, a, getting a bit of gold and silver in my brown hair. I look at small changes in the comb the same way.

At a year and a half - she definitely will be older than the new birds, it is very normal for her to be above them in the pecking order. She is probably pretty determined to keep them in their place which is below her.

I really don't think they have anything to do with each other. Maybe someone else does. But I think both are perfectly normal. And really nothing you can do about either.

MRs K

 

[HollowOfWisps]

It’s not abnormal for the center ridge to grow taller. Sometimes this will appear more single comb at first glance. Also while many chickens reach close to full size right around when they start laying, I have heritage breeds and from my experience they all still continue to grow just at a slower rate until I would say around 18 months (including combs and wattles). I have had several hens whose combs/wattles were smaller at a year old than they were at 18months. As for her asserting herself over the new pullets that is also normal. She was there first so she is just establishing exactly that.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The Pea Comb gene is partially dominant. That means if both genes at that gene pair are pea comb genes you get a pure pea comb. However, if only one of the genes at that gene pair is pea comb and one is not-pea comb, you can get a different effect. You will still see some of the effects of the pea comb gene but it can also look pretty wonky. Since you said she is a mixed breed I suspect this is what is going on. That's why it doesn't look like a pure pea comb.

I agree with Mrs. K. They can change over time. Feather color or pattern can be pretty obvious, especially after a molt, but other things can change too. I think that is a normal part of being alive.

Maybe along these lines, some breeders trying to breed show quality chickens don't consider breeding a chicken until they are two years old. They want to see what is really in the genetics before they breed them.