Has Gerry been spending too much time out in the sun? It looks like the poor thing has gone and got her comb burned. Normally a vivid pink, it’s started to peel, revealing new skin under the old.
The weather has taken a decidedly better turn these last few weeks (bank holiday weekend aside), so we took the tarpaulin off the top of their compound to give them more light. It should hopefully encourage them to sustain their currently excellent rate of egg laying.
They’re loving it. They spend hours laying out with their wings and legs stretched, soaking up the rays. Only trouble is, Gerry seems to have taken it too far, not that it seems to be troubling her.
There is one other possibility, which I think is quite unlikely, and that’s fowl pox virus. This is spread by mosquitos, of which we have already seen one indoors, perhaps from the river in the nature reserve. Either way, it isn’t serious, and likely to clear itself up over a few days.
Nonetheless, we’ll keep a close eye on her and the other hens to make sure it’s neither persistant nor infectious.
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Hiya
I can’t see the pics as I check your blog by my mobile (snazzy & a bit too technical for me!). Sometimes this type of thing happens to my hens & I’ve found plain Vaseline rubbed into combs & wattles usually works & soothes.
It may just be a reaction from some of the bitterness of the weather early this year (katie thear comments on this) coupled with the hottet weather now.
It might just be chapping. Good luck! Kx