Emergency problem with my chickens(Warning Extremely graphic photos)

[max13077]

I’m beside myself as to what to do with my hens. Some of them had lost their tail feathers. Some of them were losing feathers elsewhere. Then there’s today, more below.

Here’s an account as to the posting guidelines:

I have 20 hens (8 BO’s, 5 RIR’s, 3 SLW’s, 2 DB, 2 BR, and 1 JG)and 1 BR Roo. They are just about 8 months old. Some hens are heavier than others. Some feel nice and big, some feel lighter.

For about a month or so(maybe a little longer) I’ve noticed the feathers around the base of their tails slowly decreasing, looking broken, etc. I was under the assumption they were molting.

Everybody seems to be eating, drinking, and laying fine.

Here are some photos of just in front of their tails on their backs

Now this however is what shocked me. I’ve been away for a couple of days and I come back to this:

All of my five road island reds are bleeding out the vent. I’m just traumatized. I’ve tried to find out what the problem is by reading etc, but I can’t. They’re really nice birds and it kills me to see them and the others with their feathers like they are. I hope somebody can maybe help.

 

[ZepChick]

Hi, I can't really tell, but that little bump kind of looks like her oil gland. Our pullets (8 mos old) pick at each other right above their tails. Some of them are completely bald there, one even got her oil gland pecked at. The vent may be vent-picking at each other. I don't know much about that, but you will find a plethora of info/advice by doing a forum search for it. It could be something else, too, hopefully you will get more responses here. Are they all laying normally. pooping normally? Good luck

 

[ZepChick]

For some reason I didn't see your last photo until just now...that looks like it may be something more than hens pecking each other.

 

[max13077]

I don't know if it's eggs or what.

 

[hcammack]

How big is your coop if they are crowded they could be picking on each other and this can create horrible problems!
I was going to suggest a rooster injury but you only have one roo and so many hens so I don't know what is going on I am sorry.

Henry

 

[max13077]

My coop is 12 by 10 and they're out every day. Nobody is hardly ever in the coop. It's rare that I actually observe them pecking each other.

***Update***

I picked up some of them again and I think it has something to do with mites, ticks, or fleas. I'm just guessing but it looks as if there are small bites or something around the vents and on their backs. There are areas of scabbing that look like itchy bug bites.

More pics... Sorry but I hope somebody will spot something that I don't. The odd thing is, they don't act like they're sick. They just look it. No sulking about. No unbalanced walking. Nothing like that. Rocky the rooster it having more fun than a kid at Disney world.

I thought at first when I saw the blood they were bleeding out of their vents. Now I'm not so sure about that. Look at this pic. It looks to me as if the blood is coming out of the black scab above the vent and dripping over it. See what I mean?

Again, it looks as if the blood is originating from around the vent, not from the vent itself.

This is what led me to notice the problem initially.

This Orpie has a nice clean butt, however she has lots of missing feathers on her back

This is what confounds me though. See that RIR way out in the field? That's the one who's butt looks the worst! Go figure

So I hope somebody else knows what’s up.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Sorry it looks like they are pecking each other to me. I had that happen to one blue opr roo. Started with the broken feathers and then went to no tail feathers then to pecking. Clean them up blue kote them and keep them seprated. Looks to me like the blood is coming from just about the vent. Sorry hope it helps if it is not this then I have no clue.

 

[hot wing stables]

on those wounds you should put some antibacterial cream on them, yikes those are nasty lookin'. thats all i can say for that sorry i am probably no help

 

[max13077]

Well how's this, I went online and bought:

BLU-KOTE(thank you Zookeeper9000)
POULTRY DUST(just for safes)
Diatomaceous Earth (always wanted some)
Hot Pick(looked like it was worth a try)

Thoughts? I had it sent super fast shipping cause I want this over! I'm going to have to go to the drug store in the morning and get some triple antibiotic stuff. I'll clean them up and we'll see what happens.

 

[illinichick]

i've had this exact thing happen to mine. You have someone who started the pecking, usually starts around the tail feathers and then proceeds until they bleed out. Once the injured hen starts bleeding, it almost seems as if she goes into shock and just sits there while the others continue to peck and eat the rear area or until she just sits there and bleeds to death. I lost 3-4 this way last year. I put in a log of wood, empty water bottles, scratch, and hung cabbages, all to keep them more occupied on something other than each other. They finally stopped. I have hens now that have the feathers pecked from above their tails but I think their low on the pecking order and when it's roosting time, they get pecked on. Blu Kote works well to cover up the pecked area. I also tried Hot Pik but it didn't seem to stop them. Good Luck.