Newbie Hennie Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 Please help! I have 6 chickens for over 2 months now and all happily laying. (In Ireland) I have them in the omlet eglo. Recently I’ve notice this purple patch on the top of her head and a bit in her comb and starting on the others. They are behaving like their normal happy chickens despite this but I’m concerned. A friend and long term chicken owner tells me it’s from the cold and the 'plastic coop' is too cold for them. (I hope this is not true) (Photos below) Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 I haven't seen anything like that before, but to me it looks as though something dark blue is dripping on their heads? It could be condensation in the coop and mould growth as a result. Check inside the roof of the coop; wipe it over with a piece of kitchen roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 It certainly doesn’t look like frostbite, which mostly affects the comb itself and not the head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted April 5, 2022 Share Posted April 5, 2022 It looks like something sprayed / colour somehow transferred onto them to me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie Hennie Posted April 7, 2022 Author Share Posted April 7, 2022 On 4/5/2022 at 1:00 PM, Beantree said: I haven't seen anything like that before, but to me it looks as though something dark blue is dripping on their heads? It could be condensation in the coop and mould growth as a result. Check inside the roof of the coop; wipe it over with a piece of kitchen roll. No, definitely not, they are in a brand new omlet and within a fenced area to keep them safe. There is a bit of blue in their comb also. I clean the coop every day so it really is a mystery. Thanks for your reply. On 4/5/2022 at 2:04 PM, Cat tails said: It certainly doesn’t look like frostbite, which mostly affects the comb itself and not the head. Thanks for your response, there is a bit of blue in the comb also, it really is very strange. On 4/5/2022 at 9:00 PM, mullethunter said: It looks like something sprayed / colour somehow transferred onto them to me too. It really is a mystery. there is no possible way this could have happened - in a brand new omlet, cleaned everyday and within a fenced area. They are otherwise happy hens, laying and all good but this blue on their heads it's very strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 I agree it looks like something that's transferred on - do you have a feeder/drinker that they have to put their heads in, a fence they put their heads through to eat from the other side or something like that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie Hennie Posted April 17, 2022 Author Share Posted April 17, 2022 Hi Lewis, they use a treadle feeder that is galvanised and I use an electric fence to keep them safe in the area. They are doing well, the area that was purple has lost feathers and is no longer coloured. I'm assuming they will grown back. I still haven't figured out what caused it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 Is it possible that the treadle isn't balanced properly and the lid is closing on their heads when only one chicken is standing on the plate @Newbie Hennie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 That sounds plausible to me p, Beantree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
