Shrunken Comb

[Munch]

I bought a Minorca hen a couple of months ago. She laid the following day and then again on the 3rd day. She has not laid an egg since.

We introduced her to the girls slowly she was in a small coop and run within the main enclosure for a few days to try and ease her in. When we let her out she still faced bullying and got pushed out alot.

I know she was sort of thrown in with the lions so to speak, as she was on her own and not bought as a pair, something I would seriously consider again before doing.
But she has settled in now, sharing a coop with them and not roosting on the roof anymore.

She still hasnt laid an egg and her massive red floppy comb (completely covered one eye) is half the size and is practically standing up dead straight!

I have to say it has only really stood out to me the last couple of days but that doesnt say it has happened in the last couple of days. After this weekends events I am checking my chooks every five mins!

She seems well in her self, she is still bright eyed and shiney feathered, she has lost a little weight but I know that is to be expected with introduced and a strong crowd of 7 girls!

I suppose what i want to know is..... why is it like it? is it because she is not laying? will it grow back? could it have been the shock of Saturday nights fox visit?

[Glutton4...]

Their combs are big and red when they're laying, and smaller and pale when they're not. You don't say how old she is, but she could be coming into moult. Failing that, there could be any number of reasons; red mite, worms, shock, bullying, in no particular order! If she's eating and drinking well, and not hunched up, with no obvious signs, just keep an eye on her. After the ordeal they've been through this week, they all need a bit of pampering. Warm mash, with poultry spice or vitamins, treats such as corn, porridge, scrambled/boiled egg... will all help them rally round.

[Munch]

Thanks G4, they are all quite shook up, especially Peppers sister, they were close, I had push her out the way to be able to scoop pepper up as she was guarding her

She now is following in her sisters footsteps and has started escaping into our garden but she doesnt want to come to call like they both used too.... so sad

Anyway the Mincora (baring in mind she was sold correctly) should be coming up to 1 year old.

[RichmondHens]

I don't know. It may be a shock reaction although I've not come across it before. I keep Minorcas and the combs never shrink as much as you describe, even when they go through the moult, although they lose their colour a bit and look dry.

How old is the hen you bought? Is she a youngster or could she be older? The weight loss may be significant, she should be well over her settling in period now if you have had her two months and should have regained any temporary weight loss. Minorcas are densely fleshed birds and she should feel firm and solid when you pick her up. However if she is bright eyed, shiny feathered and active, and she is doing normal chickeny business like foraging, dustbathing etc then perhaps she went off lay because of the stress of moving to a new home, and now it is September she has decided to rest until the New Year, although if she is a youngster I would have expected her to recommence lay by now. I have some youngsters who I expect to come into lay before the winter. How far apart are her pin bones, close together or wide apart?

Sorry, that's a lot of waffle just to say I don't really know!!

[RichmondHens]

G4 beat me to it!

[Munch]

Ok Ok.... Blond moment.... yes you see a pattern here! ..... where are the pin bones and how do I check?

[Munch]

I thought I would provide you with some comparison pics....

1st one when we got her and 2nd today!

[RichmondHens]

I see what you mean, that is quite a dramatic change.

The pin bones are the pelvic bones found either side of the vent, they feel like hard bony bumps. You put your fingers over the vent and see how many fit between the bones - two or less - not laying, three - laying or about to start. But I can see from the comb she won't be in lay for a while.

If she is about a year old now then I would guess that she stopped laying prematurely due to the move and with the shortening days and cooling weather she may not now start again till January. I'm surprised she hasn't moulted though.

[Munch]

To be honest she may have moulted but it would be hard to tell and she was getting pecked at by the others alot!

Fingers crossed for the new year then, bless her, she is such a timid little thing, its hard to get near her, hence to second long distance, zoomed in photo!