Cube mk2 and WIR

[Electricbarbarella]

Just wondering as I have been looking through all the photo's that all the ex batt girls seem to have absolutly masive combs, is this the bread they are or caused by something they have been given to increase egg production?

[Lewis]

I don't have any but its probably both the breed and also that the shed they are kept in are heated, and they loose heat through their combs.

[FruitandNutCake]

I think it is the heat as my four had big floppy combs which were also very pale . The dominant one is getting redder though, and not as floppy as it was, and I've only had them just over a week

[Rhapsody]

From the BHWT site "Weather Conditions/Temperatures

The hens have been used to very warm conditions within the battery unit; this is why so many have large, floppy combs (they act as heat dissipaters) - the combs will not only redden as they are exposed to the weather, but usually shrink as the hens need to ‘lose’ less heat."

[mayflower]

All mine have large combs, and Annie my top Mother Hen, her comb is still floppy, though not completely over her right eye now. Maybe, due to excessive heat in the cage, and also dehydration....which mine were certainly suffering from, I reckon their combs have become permanently damaged. Also, when reading the BHWT newsletter the other day about the different breeds of hens used in cages, I think mine are Goldlines. In other words HUGE hens! which lay massive eggs and maybe .....the matching combs. Goldlines are renowned to be very friendly and always lay their eggs in the nesting box...which mine have always done.

[Faye&Ant]

I think it is because of the heat as they use it to cool down. My girls combs have grown this summer

[Egluntyne]

My three had large very pale pink combs.

 

They are all normal sized and red now.