Mrs_B Posted March 11, 2013 Share Posted March 11, 2013 This is a bit of an odd one - I tried researching but I can't find anything! Basically, my columbine Pebble went into moult last year and when her 'fluffy hat' feathers came out, she became a bit sore when the top girl kept pecking her. Some feathers have grown back and some haven't and my poor little girl will probably have to wait for the next moult to get that gorgeous hat back. However the last week has me a bit confused though - because the area of skin still showing has almost turned into an extra piece of comb skin. It's bright red and looks exactly the same as her comb (it's not blood or the skin being sore as it's all the same shade). Can this happen, or am I going mad? This is the Pebble before the changing of colour: http://s1279.beta.photobucket.com/user/emmachooks/media/pebblehead_zpsb3328d5f.jpg.html She wasn't really laying then, and her comb is a bit bigger and it's nice and red now. I would have got a photo this evening but she's a bit tricky to pick up and she's taken to pecking every finger in sight at the moment! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Skin constantly exposed to light will turn very red, the same things happens on bald bottoms, its rather startling but as long as the skin isnt sore its fine I would imagine that the skin is either being constantly plucked by one of the others or has been damaged and wont sprout feathers easily. Whichever way its not exactly normal but isnt anything to worry about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 Thanks, Redwing. I think you're right - Pebble's definitely not sore and there's no broken skin, but now you've mentioned it could be because it's exposed makes sense. I've tried to put aloe vera every now and then as well as applying wattle/comb gel on when their wattles/combs have been dry due to the weather. I'll just keep an eye on the skin to make sure it isn't bleeding/sore just in case of infection. As Pebble's at the bottom of the pecking order, she does get a peck on the head when the others want food/water, but it's nothing horrible, just a warning peck. I just hope one day her lovely hat grows back! We're having a large WIR built very soon and that means she can perch as high as she wants (she loves doing this) away from the others with plenty of other feed/water stations, so she can really do as she pleases. Thanks again x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
