Blood on roosts again; can't pinpoint a cause

[Callender Girl]

For the second day in a row, I've found a fair amount of blood on and under the roosts in one of my coops. None of the three hens appears to have any injury -- I've checked combs, wattles, feet, butts and bodies. The Columbian Wyandotte has blood on some of her wing and back feathers, but I can't find an underlying wound. If she was sleeping on the lower roost, it could have just dripped onto her. All three act like they feel fine and put up a fight when I try to examine them.

What am I missing?

 

[Eggcessive]

This is a mystery many of us have had, to find blood on a roost, a feeder, or on the floor. It could be a blood feather that has been pecked out, or a comb or wattle peck. Check some vents as well, in case of a prolapse, and since vent pecking can lead to cannibalism.

 

[Callender Girl]

I have a friend coming out later today, and maybe if she holds and I examine, I can get to the bottom of this. Thanks for responding!!

 

[TOMTE]

Did a mouse get into the coop and they tore it up? If nobody has any injuries I'd be inclined to believe they found themselves an intruder to snack on.

Combs tend to bleed a lot though, even from the smallest wounds. So it could easily be a pecked comb that healed quickly.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you have a lot of chickens, they are pretty picky about where they roost and who they are next to in the evening. Mine would peck a bit until they let some know their feelings about who slept where.

 

[Callender Girl]

Mice could be a possibility. I had to abandon a nearby coop that was chewed up by rats (at least that problem seems to be solved) and it would be a prime location for mice to hang out next door and foolishly walk into the red coop.

It might also be a roosting issue. The three hens have lived together for years BUT I had to move a troublesome cockerel into the coop. So, the desired balance of peace and tranquility may be changed.

It's my avatar coop and has more than enough room for everyone; it used to house six hens. The boy is NOT allowed loose with the hens. He's in a wire kennel at night and is moved outdoors during the day. He previously lived with six pullets and was overwhelming them with romance. Maybe his mere presence is too upsetting. I can move him into the garage at night and see if that helps.

 

[aart]

This is a mystery many of us have had, to find blood on a roost, a feeder, or on the floor.

Yeppers!
I don't worry about it much...tho it can be semi-alarming.

 

[Callender Girl]

I THINK I've partially solved the mystery. I moved the cockerel's cage out of the coop and into the garage overnight, and there was no blood on the roosts this morning. His presence must have seriously annoyed and/or upset the girls.

I still don't know who was bleeding or from where, but at least it appears normalcy has returned to the coop.

Now, what am I going to do with that darned cockerel? Toting Moses in and out of the garage twice a day is going to get old real fast. Rehoming a cockerel is no easy task, even a gorgeous Ameracauna.

 

[TOMTE]

I THINK I've partially solved the mystery. I moved the cockerel's cage out of the coop and into the garage overnight, and there was no blood on the roosts this morning. His presence must have seriously annoyed and/or upset the girls.

I still don't know who was bleeding or from where, but at least it appears normalcy has returned to the coop.

Now, what am I going to do with that darned cockerel? Toting Moses in and out of the garage twice a day is going to get old real fast. Rehoming a cockerel is no easy task, even a gorgeous Ameracauna.

Try posting in your state's thread, see if anyone might be willing to take him? I'd love to see pics of the man in question

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have room in your coop to just pick him off the roost in the evening, and place him in a dog crate still in the coop? Or just leave him there and see how it goes. Maybe he and hens are getting hormonal since the days are getting longer? Do you have enough roosts and room? I like having a rooster if he behaves. The hens usually have fewer squabbles.