Chickens dying afer laying eggs

[hacharlton]

I have Rhode Island Red Hens that are now starting lay. They were hatched last spring. Yesterday I found a dead hen when feeding and gathering eggs. I found 2 eggs covered in blood near the dead hen, and today I found a dead hen and also a blood covered egg. The hen's vents looked bloody and wide open. The eggs were not huge.
Can chickens die laying eggs by tearing their vent?
Are they missing something in their feed? I feed corn, hen scratch and laying pellets

 

[Judy]

They should mostly eat layer pellets, unless it is summer where you live and they get a lot foraging. Corn and scratch are not complete foods and provide a lot less protein than feed.

 

[alaskachick]

I have no answers or advice to give, but just wanted to say I sorry about the loss of your hens.

 

[Ruth Ann]

Sorry about your hens

 

[ttfoster]

Poor Babies and poor you! Sorry about that~ Hope your day will be better tomorrow!

 

[maurerwerks]

I don't have any answers on this either, but would like to hear one. Here's a bump and I'm so sorry for your losses!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Yes, they can. They may or may not die from the vent tearing or prolapse. If they don't die as a result of it, it's possible that the other birds are pecking at the bloody vent or killing the weakened birds.

Make sure they are not overweight. Overly fat birds can lead to a greater risk of vent tearing or prolapse.

 

[TheyThinkI'mTheirMom]

I'm sorry your chickens have passed. I've never ever heard of anything like this. Quite a lot to go through, I think

 

[hacharlton]

Thanks for the help y'all
There have been no evidence of pecking on the hen, even near the vent. I guess we will see if any others have this happen when I get home from work today.

 

[oconnorfamily25]

That's terrible. I am sorry for your losses. :'(