Cinnamon Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Over the last 6 months I have lost 3 hens to what I thought was prolapse....it was certainly messy, quick & bloody, but I will admit to not looking to closely, as I am very squeamish. Then last week another of my hens had blood on her feathers, around the very tips of her wings & vent. She seems to have perked up now after a couple of days staying in the Eglu. Then yesterday there was almost identical blood marks on another hen, one of my new ones. Both of these hens are white, as have been 2 of the dead prolapsed ones. It all seems a bit odd. So, I am wondering if a predator of some kind is getting in at night & attacking the vent area? I know hens go into a sleep trance, & have been known to have feet bitten off by rats while asleep, but could this happen too? And to predominantly white hens, which show up more in the dark? Would love to hear some thoughts on this! We have a walk in run, built with a concrete floor & low brick wall, but the Cube is outside of this structure, & would be the weak point for a very determined 'something' bent on attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 If there is any drain holes or gaps for mice to get through they have been known to eat tail feather quills to get the blood out at night. They can get through some really tiny gaps and I was told if you can get a Biro through the gap then a mouse can get in. We bought a cockerel who had been subjected to just that. His feathers re-grew at the next moult though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 Yes, a small thing like that could get in I guess. There are mice around, despite the cats best efforts (2 a day usually) It would be nearly impossible to block it off totally from them! Interestingly I round a tiny little piece of fur covered flesh in the egg box a few weeks ago too...................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Would you be able to move cube into WIR,if it has finer mesh may stop the blighters. We have set traps around our run and usually feel guilty when OH removes a mouse, but I won't anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 Yes, that's an option, but it will need a bit of sorting, as there will be a hole where the Cube was. I am sure The husband can sort it though. That was my next plan of attack. Just been down to see the hens & both white girls are in a real state, with more blood on them than yesterday, so whatever it is, its been at them again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Hmm, sounds like a mystery - can you rig up a night view CCTV? Are you sure that they aren't pecking at each other's botties? Can you spray their rears with soem anti-peck spray? The Nettex one tastes vile, and really seems to work with hens, so it ought to deter other critters too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 Hi Clare - glad you saw this post! I don't think it is a pecking issue. I did have a pecker, but she has a bit on now, & has become the peckee. She is actually one of the worst affected today. She was also in solitary for a while, but the problem still persisted. There is also no blood on the other hens heads or beaks. I have some Nettex, so I will do that now. It would be easier if I wasn't so squeamish about the blood I think I am going to bring the Eglu into the run for them for a few weeks, as the Cube won't fit through the door, & get Brian to block off the hole which feeds the Cube to the run, & see if that helps. Its just horrible to have lost so many so quickly, & some were brand new hens to my flock too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I hope you find the culprit soon, it sounds horrible and really distressing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 They are all Nettexed up - I absolutely STINK! We have decided to separate the pair of them, so they are in the now unused Holiday Hen pen, so we can at least keep them safe from any further pecking or nibbles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Sorry to hear about this. Sounds gruesome but also puzzling. Hope you find out what is doing this so that you know what to do. Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Hopefully by isolating them you can work out what is going on. It is unusual, but not unheard of for a rat to attack a full grown hen, and I know that you live near a stream and have had rat problems before. My money would be on a mink or ferret, and I would get some traps laid if you think that's what it is. Have a close look around in and outside the run for rat-type droppings and the usual grease lines that they tend to leave. I still haven't ruled out that one of the chooks is doing it, but I'd need to see what is going on, and the injuries/environment. I hope that you get it sorted, Sarah xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 it's not the normal mo. for mink, ferrets or stoats they normally go for the neck/throat for a quick kill my first thought was one of the other hens pecking the newer ones probably one of the lower ranking ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Sarah, if you haven't already done this, raise the feeders and drinkers up so that they have to stretch to reach them; this will angle their tails down when they are feeding, and leave them less of an obvious target for bottom peckers. See how you get on with the anti peck spray, but I think they are pecking each other. Wash any wounds carefully with diluted Hibiscrub, and check them over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Any developments overnight? I think I'd be tempted to tuck myself away in a quiet corner and sit and wait and watch... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 15, 2015 Author Share Posted August 15, 2015 Nothing new, but the isolated hens seem happy enough in the separate pen. Oddly these 2 are the top hens, & although I am not ruling out pecking, I am not convinced that is what it is.. Of course now the 2 injured hens are 'bothering' their own rear ends as I guess they are uncomfortable. They have been washed, but its hard to keep them clean, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
