Found specs of blood on waterer and a few on coop walls....I don't see any ovious wounds....any idea

[vas]

I have 6 chickens , 2 Plymouth Rocks, 2 RI reds and 2 Buff Orpingtons, who just started laying December 20 of 2011. Last week while cleaning the coop out I noticed a few specks of blood on the wall (about 8 inches off floor). Look for injury to any of the girls but did not see anything. This week I noticed some specs of blood on their waterer. Still do not see any signs of injury.

Anything I should check? (My first time raising chickens so I could use some advice)
Thank you in advance

 

[dawg53]

I have 6 chickens , 2 Plymouth Rocks, 2 RI reds and 2 Buff Orpingtons, who just started laying December 20 of 2011. Last week while cleaning the coop out I noticed a few specks of blood on the wall (about 8 inches off floor). Look for injury to any of the girls but did not see anything. This week I noticed some specs of blood on their waterer. Still do not see any signs of injury.

Anything I should check? (My first time raising chickens so I could use some advice)
Thank you in advance

Welcome to BYC.
Are your birds eating and drinking normally? Are they fluffed up, lethargic? Is their poop bloody? Any of these symptoms could possibly indicate coccidia. Is there any head shaking, gurgling or wheezing? It could possibly be Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT.)
Here's a link to respiratory diseases, scroll down to ILT.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[RaZ]

That happened in my coop a few weeks back and I too was alarmed. Turned out to be a little reorganization of the pecking order and some blood was spilled. The hen with the obvious wound already had a scab formed but I still smeared her with some Bag Balm anyway.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Keeping a close eye on them is always recommended when you see anything out of the ordinary. Any panting, especially pale comb, wounds, watery or discolored droppings, coughing or sneezing, etc. it could be disease. The blood specs could also be a sign of a pecking order dispute. They will occasionally peck one another for some "prize" such as a choice place on the roost, a favorite morsel or just a "leave me be" peck. If you do see blood on a bird it certainly can make others peck it too and if it goes too far serious injury or worse can occur. If you see any obvious pecked area--often you'll see it on the comb--keep a close eye to be sure no red blood is visible. They also can can spots on their comb for pox so if you see an increase of spots then search info on fowl pox.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Check their combs. The tiniest wound on the comb can bleed profusely. A shake of the head can send the blood flying! If nothing is obvious, it likely isn't serious.

 

[Pascal PicklePants]

Check their combs. The tiniest wound on the comb can bleed profusely. A shake of the head can send the blood flying! If nothing is obvious, it likely isn't serious.

That's what happened in my coop recently. Salmon Faverolles roo was getting abused by Welsummer roo. blood on the walls and and feeder...or anything that the comb contacted. Check for scabs on combs.

 

[RaZ]

 

[RaZ]

This is what I found a few weeks ago. It certainly looks worse that what really happened. It was a pecking order dispute. And like has been mentioned, comb wounds can bleed quite a bit.

I was pretty freaked out by what I saw, but once I checked each bird, I found that there wasn't much to be overly concerned about. I mentioned earlier that I did treat the combs with Bag Balm and all birds are fine.

PS Sorry about the double pictures, I'm still trying to get the hang of the new BYC format.

 

[vas]

Thank you. The picture was very helpful and similar to what I experienced on my water station.

 

[jaimslee4u]

How is your weather? I have seen this before when frost bite is thawing. I know our weather is cold and warms up fast then cold again. Obvisouly the other posts are a possibility too.