Thumbcat Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 Since yesterday evening Eggnog has been making a whistling noise. It's not her breathing but a noise she's making. She's doing her usual honking noise too in between times. Today I noticed that her comb has some darker bits on it and the red bits further back (I don't know what they're called) are completely dark. She's eating and drinking fine and otherwise behaving perfectly normally (she laid this morning) but she has me a little worried. Here's a picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 She looks cyanosed to me - lacking in oxygen - hard to say what the problem is without observing her, but I would get her to a chicken-savvy vet soonest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 I agree It could be her heart, that's usually number 1 suspect In saying that a number of birds like this have appeared on facebook in the last few days so it could be linked to the heat and sheer lack of air movement some parts of the country have experienced recently, ensure the run is shaded, lots of water is available and consider restricting their free ranging so they don't get too exerted. heat isn't normally such a problem but even my husband said today how still the air was and that his breathing wasn't great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbcat Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Thanks both. It is very hot and humid here so hopefully it could be that. Again this morning she seems fine - straight out of the eglu and into the food (which was a relief as I was worried I'd open the door and she wouldn't appear). I've also been reading about Bluebell's having a tendency to have darker combs. The BHWT website lists a vet not far from us so I'll see how she is tomorrow and give them a call if need be. I really hope she's ok. We've only had her 3 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Bluebelles do have darker pigmentation on their face furniture, this can vary from bird to bird. I have an old Marans bantam, she's probably about 8 or 9 years old now, she has had a tendency to being blue for the last 3 or 4 years, but is otherwise ok. I half expect her to drop dead, but as she isn't inconvenienced by it, I just let her get on with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggshell Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 My Bluebell's comb, wattles, etc have always been dark; I hadn't realised that other Bluebells were different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 If you look at a load of them in a pen, the colouring can vary widely; some are darker grey than others, some have ginger markings on the neck and chest. In some birds, the dark pigmentation in the comb, legs and wattles is more pronounced than in others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie Chick Posted June 29, 2015 Share Posted June 29, 2015 Is she still doing OK? Fingers crossed for you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbcat Posted June 29, 2015 Author Share Posted June 29, 2015 Yes thanks. I've been watching her closely and there's no change at all and she's still her normal self in every respect. I wondered if it was just a case of her reaching maturity and developing the markings that are normal for her. I hope so. Thanks to you all for the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hippie Chick Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Good! I should be getting a Bluebelle soon so I'll have to see if she has the same thing as she grows up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I was asking about dark tips to combs some months ago thinking it was frostbite. However my Bluebell suddenly went dark like this and I found out it is perfectly normal in Bluebell's. Unless you have other symptoms, don't worry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumbcat Posted July 4, 2015 Author Share Posted July 4, 2015 Thanks Pixie. She has no other symptoms but it's reassuring to know that it's perfectly normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
