What colour should a chicken’s comb be?
Comb colour can be a good indicator of health, condition and stage of lay. The shape and size of the comb is less of an indicator of health, it is more influenced by age and breed. Changes in the appearance of comb such as swelling, can be suggestive of infectious disease. Combs do grow in size and become more visible as the hen matures into lay. Wattles often mirror the combs.
Can the appearance of the comb change in healthy birds?
Younger hens (pullets) in their teens, often have paler combs as they are still juvenile and have yet to mature into laying hens. As they age towards sexual maturity, their combs become a deeper, more vibrant red colour, which they will tend to keep throughout lay.
As egg laying can reduce, particularly in older hens over the winter months, reddening of the combs can become more marked in the spring when the daylength increases.
Can comb changes suggest a disease process?
Small, paler combs in hens of laying age can suggest the hen is going off lay. This can be the result of a variety of causes including disease, parasites, weight loss, dehydration, bullying or cannibalism, moulting, becoming broody or getting old. These possible causes should be investigated. In the meantime, supplements that specifically support the immune system can be used to help the bird respond to disease challenges.
Comb or wattle changes that require veterinary attention
The list below summarises some common changes in combs and wattles that can be related to disease in hens. All of these are of concern and veterinary advice should be sought, especially if other birds in the flock have stopped laying or if any have sadly died within the last few days.
Pale wattles and combs can be related to circulatory issues such as heart failure or ascites. This occurs because the bird prioritises blood flow to the vital organs at the expense of other areas of the body.
Shrivelled combs of a normal to slightly pale colour can suggest dehydration.
Scabs of the wattles and combs can be wounds from pecking, trauma or insect bites. Scabs can also form after blisters which are typical with Fowl pox virus, an infectious disease.
Sudden swelling of the wattles and combs, often also becoming pale in colour, can be suggestive of more severe infections such as Pasteurellosis (Fowl Cholera). This is a highly infectious bacterial infection, often transmitted by rodents, that can be fatal and veterinary attention should be sought.
Respiratory issues that prevent a bird oxygenating its blood properly can cause the comb and wattles to become congested, appearing red-purple and usually shrunken due to dehydration (if they can't breathe, they usually haven't eaten or drunk).
Please be aware that extensive darkening, blackening or bruising-like appearance with swelling of the wattle and comb can suggest severe infectious disease like Avian Influenza.
