blood on the feeder???

[woodsman23]

My feeder had blood on it this am and i see no bird that is hurt, the feeder was empty what could have caused this. No birds seem to have marks on them.

 

[SIMZ]

We've had that happen before and not been able to find the injury. It could have been a cut on someone's comb or wattles. It seems that those bleed quite a bit, even when it's a small cut. Check for small black spots on combs or wattles and you might solve the mystery.

 

[dawg53]

They all crowd around the feeder(s) normally in the early mornings or whenever they get hungry. The birds at the top of the pecking order will peck at the ones on the lower pecking order to get them out of the way. Sometimes there'll be a bloody comb or wattle on the bird that's lower in the pecking order and the blood will smear on the feeder when it's her turn to feed, that's what you're seeing. (RHIP-- Rank Has It's Priveledges) LOL.

 

[aoxa]

I have blood all over my roosts. Can't figure out where it's coming from. Most likely was from a nick on the comb (they bleed heavily).

Nothing to worry about unless you see an obviously injured chicken.

 

[dawg53]

I have blood all over my roosts. Can't figure out where it's coming from. Most likely was from a nick on the comb (they bleed heavily).

Nothing to worry about unless you see an obviously injured chicken.

Several things to look for; mite infestation, especially at night. Blood from in or around vent area, also in feces. Bloody exudates expelled from their throats could mean Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT.) However if it were ILT, their would be other symptoms. They could simply be bickering/pecking each other over their favorite roosting spots and some bleeding occurs...this is what I suspect is happening.

 

[aoxa]

Several things to look for; mite infestation, especially at night. Blood from in or around vent area, also in feces. Bloody exudates expelled from their throats could mean Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT.) However if it were ILT, their would be other symptoms. They could simply be bickering/pecking each other over their favorite roosting spots and some bleeding occurs...this is what I suspect is happening.

Everyone is vaccinated for ILT here. I am almost certain it is over zealous roosters and hens bleeding from comb, as I've caught one hen bleeding like that.