Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[amateurkeeper]

...is what I found this afternoon

 

Went out to check on the ex-batts who had been free ranging all day. They're all fine, scratching around and being their usual chicken selves. Then I spotted an egg just outside the run - nothing unusual, our ginger ex-batt tends to just lay where she's standing! However on brushing it away I noticed it was sitting in a pool of blood Have attached photos.

 

Now all 3 hens aren't showing any signs of distress, their vents look fine and they are behaving as normal. What could be the cause of the blood - could it have something to do with the softies? (2 in 2 days).

 

 

[Plum]

What I would guess is one has trouble laying softies and others have been able to eat the softies and know when a hen is straining a meal is on the way consequently this hen may have had some difficulty passing this normal egg (judging from where you found it) and the others seeing her straining could have pecked the vent while still stretched around the egg. The blood is fresh so it's likely to be local in the vent. As it's a normal formed egg and there is no sign of problems things probably went straight back inside and kept clean.

 

I would keep an eye out for one of them becoming unwell which could indicate an infected internal wound, otherwise not worry too much.

[amateurkeeper]

Thanks for the response Plum. However it wasn't a normal egg she laid - it was another softy.

 

We've been watching her all night, and she seems to be fine - as do the other ladies. Was a bit of a shock to see the blood though!!

[Plum]

They can always come up with another way to make us anxious. Hope she's ok now.