Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: wolverine on May 24, 2010, 18:19

Title: Floppy comb
Post by: wolverine on May 24, 2010, 18:19
I don't think it's anything really to worry about but one of my chickens has a floppy comb looks like a quif is this normal?
Title: Re: Floppy comb
Post by: joyfull on May 24, 2010, 18:26
it depends on what breed it is as to whether it is something to worry about. Some breeds such as the exchequer leghorn do hav a comb that flops over in the hens. If you have a breed that should be upright then this can be a sign of a problem. Ex batts often come out with huge pale pink floppy combs but this is because they are kept in conditions that are too warm and in constant light.
Title: Re: Floppy comb
Post by: wolverine on May 24, 2010, 18:30
Hi joy. I think you have a better idea of what breed she is than I do it's the White one of the Merrydale website you looked at can the comb get sunburned should i put suncream on it's comb???
Title: Re: Floppy comb
Post by: joyfull on May 24, 2010, 18:34
the comb then should be floppy if she is a leghorn or leghorn cross  :lol: (the white eggs made me think of this breed). I think her comb should be ok without the sunblock - just make sure they have plenty of shady areas.
Title: Re: Floppy comb
Post by: Pretty Chick on May 24, 2010, 18:45
One of my friends has some ex bat hens and one of them had an enormous floppy comb that she made her own shade!!  :lol:   :lol:
Sadly though, that hen died a while back, but they are not sure why   :ohmy:
Never mind, that hen gave us a laugh and had a decent last year of her life :D
Title: Re: Floppy comb
Post by: dizzylizzie on May 24, 2010, 20:46
The purpose of a chickens comb is to help them regulate their body temperature, chickens dont sweat so as the blood flows through the comb it cools down therefore helping the chicken stay cool.As Joy mentioned, alot of battery chickens have large combs because the factories are so hot.The chickens combs enlarge to cope with them being too hot , so it could simply be because its been hot ;)
Title: Re: Floppy comb
Post by: carolbriar on May 24, 2010, 20:51
My cuckoo maran has had a floppy comb for a good month now.  She seems well in every other way and is eating and everything else.  What things can cause this?