[GRAPHIC PICS]What might have caused this? Do I need to cull them? First aid?[GRAPHIC PICS]

[Billiam]

I would put money on your dog

A predator that hunts to survive wouldn't waste energy chasing the birds, it would kill and eat one, then try for another. The hawks and coyotes around here leave only a few feathers as evidence not bald chickens.... a pet that doesn't really know what it is doing would get excited and confused and chase too many chickens at one time. Your dog will figure it out and start doing a better job at killing if you don't put a stop to it very soon.

Good point. The dog will be isolated if we ever have to go anywhere and we've already let the birds out for the day. That is much easier than trying to get all the girls back in their run.

 

[City farm]

My 2 cents is maybe the dog started it and the other hens jumped in. Once they see blood curiosity kicks in and they pick non stop. Blue Kote worked pretty good when our little ones did that.

 

Yes x2.

We use vetericyn.
Wound & infarction treatment.. On the bottle is lists:
Hot spots, rain rot, rashes, post sergical sites, burns, cinch fungus, ring worm, skin infection, skin ulcers, thrush
E. Coli, strep, staph ( MRSA) that about covers it..

 

[City farm]

...

Good point. The dog will be isolated if we ever have to go anywhere and we've already let the birds out for the day. That is much easier than trying to get all the girls back in their run.

[/quote Any time we need to get the girls back in the run we tell them that we have a treat. They do understand English

 

[rufus]

It is best to keep dogs and little kids out of the chicken yard. Not only are the dogs a danger to the chickens, but they tend to eat stuff they really shouldn't. If there is one chicken poop out there, a little kid will step on it. Unless you don't mind cleaning off their shoes, keep them out of the chicken yard.

 

[beehappy4ever]

Sorry about your chickens. I had a cuckoo marans that had gotten sick the same time as a black copper marans hen. They were in isolation together for a week with no issues. I finally moved them back to the big pen but put them inside a Great Dane size dog crate so I knew no one was picking on them. My bcm hen pecked the cuckoo marans pullet down to the bone on her back and it looked just like that! I had been out with them all day working around the coop and the cuckoo pullet never made a sound. We ended up culling her as after having her in my shower for a week I just wanted to put her out of her misery.

 

[Arizonachicken]

I really don't think it was your other hens since multiple hens have the same pattern of injuries. And the severity if the injuries in such a short amount of time suggest a predator. Also since it was just the backs that were attacked, it looks like they were held down and plucked. I am leaning more toward an immature/inexperienced bird of prey. A small hawk probably wouldn't be able to carry off a hen, maybe it was spooked off and went back but caught another, etc. Blu-kote is great and will stop the other hens from pecking at the raw areas. As for the dog, it doesn't strike me as a dog attack for some reason. I would think you'd find bite marks from a dog, not just plucking. Luckily, I don't have much experience with dog attacks. My 80 lbs lab mix killed one of my FBCM when we first got chickens, but she broke its neck immediately. I caught her in the act and scolded her (she's really sensitive) and now the chickens can jump on her and she won't do anything. It been a year or two now so I trust her. Just depends on the dog. Good luck, I think they will be fine.

 

[rufus]

It has been my experience that when a bird of prey attacks chickens, they remove the head.

 

[flower]

So how are the plucked hens feeling anyway. Did you appy some thing to help them heal ?

 

[Billiam]

I wasn't able to get anything for them until the next morning. I got some Blu-kote for the cuts and raw skin and Sulmet for the drinking water. I sprayed the Blu-kote on the ones that will let me and even on them only what is visible. They won't let me lift up their wings to get underneath. I was reading the Sulmet label and it says not to consume the eggs when they are on it. I chose not to use it at all. This morning they were all much more perky and couldn't wait to get out of their enclosed run. I have an exposed run area that the dogs can't get into so they can spread out and run around some more.
We've decided it has to have been the dog. He has done this before to one hen and I had to cull it. We were just in shock of all the carnage this time around and weren't ready to pin it on him. Thanks for the advice and concern everyone.

 

[mtngrl812]

It is hard to have to blame a pet for such things, but they are doggies and just can't hardly help themselves. I have 3 schnauzers and have to keep them separate from the chickens when I am not home. One old schnauzer can't get around very well so he is not too much of a threat (and he is missing most of his teeth). The dogs are really good with the chickens when I am out with everyone. When they first chased a couple chickens I grabbed up the chicken (alive) and scolded the dogs with her. Chicks are a different story, my youngest dog really has no desire to do anything to the chicks, but the older dog tries his best to get one and the middle dog, well he loves chicken! So the chickens and dogs are always in different areas of the yard unless I am out with them. Dogs will be dogs, and chickens will be chickens.