For many people, keeping chooks is one of life’s great pleasures. However, just like with any other livestock, knowing what is right, or normal and what isn’t, is the key to healthy animals and today we will look at understanding what the comb colour of a hen tells us.

Combs

Combs and wattles on poultry are used to control the bird's temperature and to impress the opposite sex. Combs come in many shapes and sizes and may be naturally erect or floppy. Combs come in a variety of colours as well as shapes. They can be red, black, or purple. 

At different ages, combs can be different colours and while a pale comb may be a sign of anaemia in an older hen, in a pullet it can be quite normal - we need to know when it is normal and when it might indicate something is not right.

Comb colour and age

A pale comb is normal in young chickens, old chickens or hens who are in the process of moulting.

A pale comb is not normal in a hen in the prime of its life, who is laying and in good health. She should have a bright red, shiny, fleshy looking comb. If it starts to become pale, the bird could be suffering from mites, lice, worms, heat exhaustion, dehydration or a disease like coccidiosis. Her face may also appear pale. The paleness is caused by the hen becoming anaemic due to blood loss.

 If your chook’s comb turns from red to purple, this is not a good sign. It means the hen isn’t getting enough blood to the comb, so just like us, when our hands or feet turn blue, it’s a sign something is wrong. Turning purple may indicate that the hen has a cold, or is cold. It can also be a sign of a heart attack or a stroke. Chronic aspergillosis and tuberculosis can also cause a hen’s comb to go purple.   

What if my hen has a naturally purple comb?

Hens with naturally purple combs make it a bit more difficult to know when there is a problem. Any change in the colour from its normal one should be noted. If the hen is showing other signs, or behavioural differences, this can be an indication not all is well in her world.

What are the black tips on my hens comb?

If you notice black tips, this could be a sign of frostbite. In winter, hens can suffer from frostbite and this will turn the tips black. As an aside to that, hens bred in colder climates generally have smaller combs so that they are not as exposed to the cold, whereas hens bred for warm climates tend to have a larger comb to help cool them down.

Black spots on the comb or face can also be an indication the hen has been pecked and the black spots will be dried blood. 

Brown crusty spots on the comb

If you notice your hen or hens have brown, crusty spots on their face or comb, these could be caused by Fowl pox. Fowl pox is caused by biting insects and is mainly seen north of Taupo in New Zealand. The disease can be spread further south by hens being sent to new properties while incubating the disease.

There are two types of fowl pox - Wet and dry. The dry pox causes scabby lumps on the comb, wattles and face, while the wet pox settles inside the mouth and throat and can cause suffocation. 

To recap!

Know your chooks! When looking at comb colour, take into consideration their age, laying status, climate or stage of moult.

If you can’t identify a cause for the abnormal colour, or it affects multiple hens in the flock, then seek veterinary advice.  

For a deeper dive into keeping backyard hens our Keeping Chickens online course is a practical guide to what you need to know.