Unsecure chicken perches

[pwms]

Hi one of my Blackrock hens started acting withdrawn yesterday afternoon - taking herself off the the coop. This morning she did the same but then laid a 70g egg, so I thought that was that but then she took herself off again.

 

I picked her up and discovered some bleeding from the vent and the area behind the vent had no feathers (about 2cm x 3cm) and the skin is green.

 

From reading articles on-line it suggests feather pulling by another bird and the green skin is bruising but she seemed to be top of the pecking order and the most lively of the hens.

 

I have segregated her for now but would like advice on what to do.

 

Any help gratefully received

 

 

Peter

[pwms]

More info

 

I let her out and one of the others immediately went to peck her in the affected area so I took that one and put her in the run. The others seem to be OK with the affected hen.

 

So it looks like bullying but what to do.

 

I was thinking of putting vaseline on the affected area but how to stop the pecking? Should we get the beak trimmed?

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

Peter

[alet_chicken]

Hi, you didn't say whether the blood came from a visible wound or not. Chickens will peck at any sign of blood, so best to disguise it with purple spray (Gentian violet, available from horsey shops).

 

If it's just the one girl, it may be that a bit of separation will bring her to her senses. Otherwise, a bumper bit might help (more info here). They are not permanent and both kinder and less risky than beak trimming in my view.

 

Hope this helps, and good luck. No doubt somebody with more knowledge on the matter will be along soon.

[Gertie]

Hi Peter

 

I have had a similar experience. I would examine her closely to see if the blood is from a visible wound. If so, I would clean it with cooled boiled salted water, dry, then apply gentian violet as alet_chicken says. I would keep her separate but next to the other birds. Chickens are attracted to blood & will peck until death so I wouldn't trust them together!! If the blood is coming from the vent, personally I would take her to the vet as she may have something stuck in her vent or have had a prolapse. Check her again after she lays.

 

If you have separated the bully but left her with the other hen I would keep a very close eye. Pop up to check frequently! My hen pretended not to be interested when I was looking but pecked her when I left. I had to keep them separated for ages until things were all sorted.

 

Good luck!

[pwms]

Hi

 

Thanks for the advice - I found an anti pecking spray in a local(ish) pet shop and sprayed all teh hens liberally since I noticed the bully was pecking at least two of the others. The others don't seem interested in pecking the injured one - at least not for now.

 

I have them all back in together now but will monitor the situation as closely as possible (not easy when out at work all day).

 

Peter

[The Dogmother]

Hi Peter, I spoke to you yesterday - how is she now?

 

Please PM me if she's still not right and perhaps I can arrange to meet you at the yard at the weekend and have a look at her.

[pwms]

Hi

 

I had them all in together yesterday and Victoria (Peckham) had laid an egg and bled on it during the day was still bleeding a little at night so I cleaned the wound - sprayed it with the antiseptic anti pecking spray (still smells like cresote to me) and dusted her down with a little cornflour (I read that somewhere) and put her back in the coup. I also removed the bully (Beakey) and made a straw nest for her in the shed.

 

Today I have kept Beaky separated but she is also a resourceful escape artist!

 

Victoria was not bleeding earlier and has laid an egg - took ages but no blood but I haven't picked her up again afterwards she might have opened the wound slightly but I will check her later - meanwhile I must go and arrange for some bits for Beaky. Right after seeing if she has escaped again!

 

 

Thanks for the support

 

Peter

[The Dogmother]

LOL what are they like?

 

Glad that it's going OK now.

[pwms]

Hi, we put out heads together and all out observations lately and may have found out how Victoria got her injury . . .

 

sorry for cross posting but I thought I would add this addendum and question to the original thread - also posted on the Chickens/Chickens forum

 

 

I wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

 

We noticed one of our hens (Beaky) pulling straw from under the nesting box part of the cube through the ventilation/drain slot. This coincided with one of the others (Victoria) having a nasty wound on her abdomen with feather loss and subsequent pecking and drawing blood in the open by Beaky. Putting two and two together I think Beaky found a way of pulling feathers when the others are laying and then got a taste for blood. There's no sign of how Victoria got injured underneath like that - they are either in the run or fenced in on grass so no major sharp things around, so this is just a theory.

 

Has anyone else seen this and better still how to deal with it? Is there a way of protecting against this subversive attack possibility?

 

I have segregated Beaky for now and I am waiting for some bumper bits to be delivered, but is there a way to cover the slot with a fine mesh that would still allow air flow?

 

Regards

 

 

Peter

[Chucky Mama]

I am locking this topic and it continues here: CLICK otherwise it will get very confusing having 2 sets of answers.