Turtle Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Help. This morning there were some blood spots on the roosting bars. We have checked the chickens over and not found anything. They are eating and both have laid eggs today. What could this be? It looked as if there was some blood in one lot of droppings as well. On picking them up they felt a bit thinner than usual as the breast bone felt very prominant. We have recently put the run on wood chip as the grass was taking a battering and they are in the run most of the day. Apart from that they have been doing really well with 2 everyday and seem very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 have you given them a thorough all over check, including their feet, to check for any cuts or wounds? if the blood was on the roosting bars it would suggest to me a wounded foot or leg but then again, I'm no expert! hope you get it sorted, let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Check the ends of the roosting bars carefully for red mite. They are sometimes mistaken for blood spots. Hope all is ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 Check the ends of the roosting bars carefully for red mite. They are sometimes mistaken for blood spots. Hope all is ok thought that but it wouldn't explain the blood in the poo, still worth a check though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 It could just be a small rupture. Has one of them laid a particularly big egg lately? Remember a small amount of blood goes a long way. Just keep an eye on them for a couple of days, i'm sure they will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 I reckon that one of the girls has overdone herself when laying an egg. Hopefully it'll be fine tomorrow but keep us posted.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 10, 2007 Share Posted November 10, 2007 I reckon that one of the girls has overdone herself when laying an egg. Hopefully it'll be fine tomorrow but keep us posted.... That's what I was going to say too. It can just rupture a blood vessel if they strain. Nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 I often find little bits of blood - reckon it comes from small ruptures of blood vessels. Often in the shredded newspaper I use in the nest box or on the paper I line the poo trays with. As someone said, a little bit of blood goes a long way and I worried a bit to start with but don't fuss about it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenzin Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 I've seen this on mine before and after checking them it's always o.k . I would check for red mite though as they can soon infest in a massive way and blood up the the roosting bars at night when the hens move around treading on them . Shine a torche late at night and if there about they'll show up as grey specs , takes ages to get rid of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted November 11, 2007 Author Share Posted November 11, 2007 Thanks for all the replies. There was quite a large egg the day before, although no blood was seen until the following morning. There are definately no cuts to feet and no mites. There was no blood this morning and both the girls seem fine. Hopefully it was just the strain of the egg! I'm just worried why they both feel a bit thinner than usual now, although having had them for only a month we're still finding out what 'usual' is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 They feel thinner than they look under all those feathers. Why not worm them as a precaution, and perhaps cut down on the treats so that they fill up on pellets, for a while at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Why not worm them as a precaution, and perhaps cut down on the treats so that they fill up on pellets, for a while at least. I think this is excellent advice. I bought a big tub of Flubenvet and worm them once a year now. And pellets are really all they need, so treats should be just that - treats - and really only given occasionally. Cruel to be kind- hard innit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Treats should be given occasionally...oh dear. Mine get leftover s"Ooops, word censored!"s from dinner mixed in with their pellets and various corns/ small s"Ooops, word censored!"s through the day. Too much...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Mine get some corn when ever I go up the garden .... Well ... they come running, and are so pleased to see me, and ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 I'ev just realised - Evil Georgie is my Avatar picture! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 11, 2007 Share Posted November 11, 2007 Richard-all I can do is laugh at your mistake !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandra Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 I found blood on an egg last week, but it hasn't happenend since. My hens seem fine hope yours feel ok??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
