[Jomtie]

One of my hens has a pale comb that seems to be shriveling. She is about 2 years old and not laying, and hasn't done for about 6 months. She is otherwise healthy, so could age be the reason?

[Sassy]

What breed is she? Is she a hybrid?

[joyfull]

it could be the breed as Sassy has said but also most birds that aren't laying do have smaller and paler combs.

[Jomtie]

Yes she's a hybrid. Sold to us as a Copper Black.

[Oakdalebirds1]

one of my girls is the same with shrivelled comb and also 2 years old (had her since she was 8 week old she came into lay for 3 month then hasn't laid an egg this past year at all)
her comb is still pale 2 month on but she eats and drinks and has just gone through a moult so god knows whats wrong with her and why she wont lay

went to vet antibiotics given , minerals in water etc wormed every 6 month , coop cleaned out each week and i use all types of approved cleaners to keep bugs etc away

she's just like that child at school that always had a cold or infection

not sure what else to do with her as she appears happy , runs with the others , chases flies and play fights with other hens ...maybe shes one of those hens that forgets shes a hen .

i wish you all the luck

[Sassy]

sometimes hybrids do not even lay for their usual 2 to3years and this may be the case here. However, she could surprise you next year!

[Jomtie]

Bizarrely Sassy we have had 4 eggs this morning!!!! Are you psychic?? OH checked the nest box when he let the girls out this morning - no eggs. I just went up as Hettie had come out singing the egg song and there they were....4 lovely eggs!!! Tilly had not laid for over 6 months and we thought she was on her last legs and were keeping a close eye on her. She started to get really tatty a couple of months ago and lost loads of feathers. Her bum was completely bald, she had no tail feathers and she looked a sorry sight!! But over the last couple of weeks she's gradually grown them back and is lovely, glossy and fluffy again now. They are weird animals!!

[Sassy]

2 Christmas's ago a hen and a duck started to lay the day before the shortest day and most of the rest a week later. They obviously had not read the rules or accepted theories. 

[Jomtie]

I'm just amazed that, after having not laid a single egg for months and months and months, she's suddenly produced one today completely out of the blue!!!! It is definitely her's as it's not likely that 3 hens would lay 4 eggs in the space of two hours and it looks exactly like the ones she used to lay. We're saddos and can recognise which hen has laid which egg as they're all different colours and textures.

[Sassy]

Brilliant