Patsy Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Hi, just wondered if anyone has any ideas about what could be causing one of my hens to bleed. I find the runny blood in the morning where one of them has roosted, so am assuming the blood is coming out when the hen poos. No blood on eggs, and all of my hens seem happy enough and laying normally (an egg each per day). I can't see any signs of blood, mucus, or prolapse on any of them, though have no hen experience really, so could well be missing something... Is this something to worry about and have checked out immediately (I would need to work out which hen is bleeding first), or to monitor for the moment? Thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Hi Patsy, sorry to hear you have this problem. I don't have any experience of this, but my first thoughts would be (a) is it definitely blood? If it's related to their poo, sometimes it can be something red they've eaten and not digested properly. Do you give them strawberries or tomatoes or something similar? (b) How long have they been in lay? Is it possible that one of them is coming into lay and it's causing small ruptures? Although the lack of blood on eggs makes it seem a bit less likely. © it is normal for hens to shed a bit of the lining of their intestines in their poo, but it's usually a squishy red bit in an otherwise healthy poo, whereas you're describing liquid. Sorry, reading that back over it doesn't sound very helpful. I'm sure someone with more experience will be along to help soon x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Sometimes blood in poo can be a sign of coccidiosis but its not that common in adult birds. You can get treatment liquid online that goes in their water, I think its called Coxioid (or something like that) Some poo pics here (not for the squeamish!) http://www.pekinheaven.com/main/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1153 These poos still look like poo rather than pure blood though if it is pure blood you are finding I would think about taking the chicken to a vet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsy Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Hi both, Thanks for your help. The blood is definitely runny (it's in drips down the side of the hole into the nesting box where one hen perches), so perhaps she needs to see the vet. Will clean it off, have a look in tonight to see who it is who perches on the nesting box entrance, and then check for blood again tomorrow. I don't know if it's related in some way, but one hen lays slightly poo-smeared eggs (again, don't know who). I wonder if this is normal, or a sign of some problem as I understood that eggs should be laid clean. Also, the eggs are often a bit "corrugated" looking in places, but again, I thought eggs could come in various weird shapes without it being a sign of a particular problem. God, I've only had hens for a few weeks (four ex-batts) and am already thinking cats are so much easier! Still, they are incredibly entertaining and sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patsy Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Have just been looking at other people's problems, one of which is baldy bottom. The hen I think is the one who roosts perched on the divide between the nesting box and the rest of the eglu also has a baldy bum. Perhaps the others could be pecking at it as she hovers over them at night, explaining why there is blood in that spot, but nowhere else that I can see. I'm going to put a football in the nesting box tonight to prevent roosting in there and see what happens... She also kind of stays separate from the other three when they're out and about, so could perhaps be nervous of being picked on. Don't know, just a theory I intend to look into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 If she is being pecked and the other hen is drawing blood, it won't stop I'm afraid unless you take some action. You could buy some Ukadex which is anti-peck spray and smells disgusting apparently. My vet recommended using blue food colouring in an emergency to colour the red - which is what attracts them to peck. You can also buy something called a bumper bit which fits around the pecking hen's beak, holding it a little bit open which might stop her pulling out feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 It does sound as though she is being pecked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I agree that pecking could be a problem but am surprised that there is no sign of blood on the feathers if that is the case.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
