2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Chicken Kitty]

I noticed today that Clover's comb is pale.

Apart from that she seems totally fine. She started laying at the beginning of September, but then stopped as she went broody and then went into her first moult about a month ago. She lost her neck feathers, which seem to be growing back quickly, and today I noticed she has lost a few tail feathers too.

She was wormed about 2 and half months ago.

(She seems totally happy...eating....free ranging....pottering about doing chickeny things. )

Is this normal after/towards the end of a moult?

I have popped some poultry tonic in their water.....Should I be worried/what else can I do?

[percy049]

It could be a sign of the cold - make sure her comb isn't frostbitten at all (no blue/black bits).

It could also be a sign of blood loss. Check Clover for lice and mites, and also check that the house doesn't have red mite.

Or, she could just be fine, getting over her moult

[Chicken Kitty]

Thank you percy049, I cleaned the elgu out today....no sign of red mite.....I'll give her a good check over tomorrow.

We've only had one mild frost here so far this autumn/winter.....so hopefully it's not due to the cold.

[auntielizzie]

I believe this is quite normal after a moult. My Bessie has just about finished quite a big moult and her comb got much smaller and very pale indeed. The colour is starting to come back to it now and it seems to look a bit more normal sized. It was just one of those things that happened very gradually during her quite long moult, lasting about 7 or 8 weeks; suddenly noticed her comb had shrunk and gone very pale. I was a bit worried too, but realised checking old posts that this seems to be quite normal. As I say, it is beginning to change back again now.

[Chicken Kitty]

Thank you auntielizzie, that has made me feel much better

I had a read through old posts too....but thought I'd ask in case I was missing something important (due to my lack of experience!)

[Plum]

Makes me quite anxious when I see how dry and pale the combs go when moulting. They are vulnerable to illness when moulting so keep an eye on them still