Bloody chicken

[Wrigs8]

Can someone help?? My chickens seem to have their butts “burst”. This happened to two of my chickens last year at this time too. I thought it was from not having enough protein in their diets. I have been heavy on the protein this winter and I’m feeding a high protein food. This chicken was find this morning when I went outside and let them out of the coop. My son went out about 3 hours later and found her like this. The other chickens were pecking at her. She is two years old and doesn’t seem to be laying, so I don’t believe it is a prolapse. Any help or suggestions???

 

[Eggcessive]

It appears the others were pecking at her vent or cannibalizing her. While sometimes it can be a lack of protein problem, overcrowding, boredom, too much light, agressive breeds and bad habits can be some of the causes. Do they get out to free range every day? I would separate this hen with food and water in a dog crate, but leave her with the flock. If you can get Vetericyn wound spray to spray her bottom twice a day or use plain Triple Antibiotic Ointment or both, that would be helpful. What do you feed including iany treats?

 

[Wrigs8]

Can someone help?? My chickens seem to have their butts “burst”. This happened to two of my chickens last year at this time too. I thought it was from not having enough protein in their diets. I have been heavy on the protein this winter and I’m feeding a high protein food. This chicken was find this morning when I went outside and let them out of the coop. My son went out about 3 hours later and found her like this. The other chickens were pecking at her. She is two years old and doesn’t seem to be laying, so I don’t believe it is a prolapse. Any help or s

It appears the others were pecking at her vent or cannibalizing her. While sometimes it can be a lack of protein problem, overcrowding, boredom, too much light, agressive breeds and bad habits can be some of the causes. Do they get out to free range every day? I would separate this hen with food and water in a dog crate, but leave her with the flock. If you can get Vetericyn wound spray to spray her bottom twice a day or use plain Triple Antibiotic Ointment or both, that would be helpful. What do you feed including iany treats?

We have 13 chickens total. 4 variety: 2 Orpingtons, 3 sexlinks, 4 Easter Eggers and 4 black australops. They are in an old cow barn and we took two 10 x 15 bull pens that we encased in chicken wire. They have the run of both pens so a total of 20 x 30’ pen. We are feeding Nutrena Nature Wise layer feed 16% protein pellets. They also get a 7 grain scratch grain once a day and daily meal worms. They do have a run that they can go out in, but usually don’t if there is snow on the ground. I’ve been giving greens and veggies such as salad, spinach, carrots, fruits- apples, blueberries whatever is on hand about once a day as a treat. I Will also cut a cabbage in half and set it in their pen to peck at.

The other chickens were def pecking at her today. I’m just not sure if that is what caused this or did her butt split and then they started pecking at her.

 

[Eggcessive]

They can have enlarged lower bellies from fluid, internal laying or salpingitis, and more rarely, a hernia in the muscle wall, but the most likely answer is that they pecked her belly raw. It is a common place for agression. I would cut back on a lot of the treats which are diluting the protein and other nutrients in their feed. 16% is the minimum protein they need, and scratch and vegetables don’t have much protein at all. Scratch is 7% protein, lettuce and other fruits and veggies have little if all. Meal worms are good in small amounts, but I would get some Purina Flock raiser 20% or another brand, and make that 90% of what they eat. Be sure to keep some crushed oyster shell available for hard egg shells.

Keep her separate through a do crate or some fencing until her skin has healed. Keeping it coated with plain antibiotic ointment will help it to heal.

There are many good articles on how to prevent vent pecking, but I would spend some time looking for bullies. Too much light or too high of roosts are some possible causes. Here are 2 good articles to read:
https://extension.psu.edu/poultry-cannibalism-prevention-and-treatment
https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/health-welfare/causes-vent-pecking-cannibalism-layers

 

[Wrigs8]

They can have enlarged lower bellies from fluid, internal laying or salpingitis, and more rarely, a hernia in the muscle wall, but the most likely answer is that they pecked her belly raw. It is a common place for agression. I would cut back on a lot of the treats which are diluting the protein and other nutrients in their feed. 16% is the minimum protein they need, and scratch and vegetables don’t have much protein at all. Scratch is 7% protein, lettuce and other fruits and veggies have little if all. Meal worms are good in small amounts, but I would get some Purina Flock raiser 20% or another brand, and make that 90% of what they eat. Be sure to keep some crushed oyster shell available for hard egg shells.

Keep her separate through a do crate or some fencing until her skin has healed. Keeping it coated with plain antibiotic ointment will help it to heal.

There are many good articles on how to prevent vent pecking, but I would spend some time looking for bullies. Too much light or too high of roosts are some possible causes. Here are 2 good articles to read:
https://extension.psu.edu/poultry-cannibalism-prevention-and-treatment
https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/health-welfare/causes-vent-pecking-cannibalism-layers

Thank you so much for the help. They do have a bowl of oyster shells in their pen. I will alter their food according to what you are saying. She is separated and I’m treating her with Vetericyn 3x per day.
One question: Can you expound on the height of the roosts?? We put in a roost that is about 2.5 feet high, but most of them prefer to roost on the bar separating the bull pens. It is about 4.5 -5 feet high.

 

[Eggcessive]

Chickens will usually prefer to go to the highest roost inside the coop. One of the 2 articles says that more pecking or feather picking can occur on higher roosts, apparently from a study they did. I have also found in my heavy birds, that more bumblefoot and injuries can occur with higher roosts. Mine are also about 2.5 feet high, and I am planning on lowering mine some. Mine used to be about 4 feet high, so I prefer them lower. It is also good to separate roosts if you have more than one, so that they cannot reach each others back ends. These ar just suggestions, and may not be the reasons for your problem.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Can someone help?? My chickens seem to have their butts “burst”. This happened to two of my chickens last year at this time too.

I think you need to get a good look and see what's really going on... it looks *more* like prolapse than other things I've seen. Just because she wasn't laying doesn't mean she isn't returning to lay... and sometimes double yolkers, softees, or other things might cause prolapse.

I have been heavy on the protein this winter and I’m feeding a high protein food.

The description of feeding I read above, sounds ANYTHING but high protein. But that's already been explained by the other poster.

Is she pooping? Has it been a specific breed that you see this happening in? Can you get a view of the actual vent?
https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya...I-help-a-chicken-with-vent-prolapse-H263.aspx
Sorry you face this! Hope she recovers quickly!