Bloody featherless area under rectum???What is causing this?

[Shellyb]

I had a chicken that started this and it got better then got worse within about a weeks time. Well today I found her dead and that's the only thing I can think of that caused it. Well, now I see it on at least two other chickens. What could be the cause of this. It's not the rectum that is bleeding, it's the area directly under it and the area gets larger over time and less feathers as it goes on. Any ideas?

 

[3goodeggs]

Could another chicken be eating the down feathers and flesh too? we have one of those. She now resides in the bad chicken cage.
I just had to spend several hours in the run watching to see what was going on.

 

[CTChickenMom]

Is it possible rats are getting in your coop? They'll come at night when chickies are sleeping. They'll chew on feet, legs, feathers....what ever they can reach. Chickens are too sleepy to do anything about it.

 

[lilblessings5]

Watch your other chickens, they are most likely the cause, Mine have started doing the samething this winter after the dog got in the coop on day and killed 2 birds, and injured several. I didn't see one of the injured birds and she was left in there the next morning she had been pecked to death. Since then I have had a terrible time with cannibilism. If you can find the guilty hen remove her so she doesn't influence the other birds into doing it also. Also- be sure and remove all injured birds..they like blood!

 

[enola]

I have two hens that just love to pick feathers off of their flock mates. I stopped the picking by buying pinless peepers !!!!

They really work ! I had tried trimming their beaks and separating them from the rest of the girls. But, after they had each other picked nearly bald, I ordered the peepers and put them on the girls. After their feathers grew back, I put them with the rest of the flock, with their peepers on and the picking has stopped.

If you try this, just make sure you have the peepers lined up correctly when you apply them. If the peepers are not applied properly, their nose will get sore and they will NOT eat or drink !

 

[Shellyb]

Hmmm... So nobody thinks it sounds like an infection of some kind? I'm just at my wits end with these chickens. It's my first time having them and I had one die last month when she acted very strange two different times and the second time she didn't make it. Not related to the issues now however and I never solved that issue either. Another of my hens seems to want to be in the nesting box all day. I remove the eggs from her and take her out of the box and show her the water and food but soon there after she's right there again. She may even be sleeping in there, not sure yet. I just don't want to see the same thing happen to these other hens that are now having the same issues. Nobody thinks it's mites or lice or something of the sort? Thanks for the insight and advice thus far.

 

[chookchick]

Quote:
Second that! It's feather picking and can progress rapidly. Make sure they have enough protein in the diet--I would add high protein treats for a while like good-quality cat food, low-salt fish, unsalted meats, mealworms, etc...Make sure they have enough room (minimum 4 sq ft inside, 10 sq ft outside) and stuff to keep them busy even on bad weather days (search "chicken toys").

Your other hen sounds like she's trying to be a broody. Kick her off the nest whenever you see her on it.