Hens bleeding from underneath then dying

[Sonya.]

What could cause a hen to bleed from underneath (honestly not sure if it's from the butt or what but is underneath, as in like if they was sitting down on the ground this is the part that they would be sitting on). One day they seem normal, the next day they will be sitting around with blood under them & the next day they're dead. I had this happen last year & out of 15 hens only 4 survived. Now it seems to be happening again. I had one die one day then another the very next day. This morning I have another with blood on her & sitting around. Last year it was during the rainy time if spring I believe. This time it is in February but it's been unseasonably warm & very rainy. Not sure if the warming up & rain has anything to do with it but the weather conditions were the same last time this happened. I'm thinking it has to be some kind of disease since it happens to more than 1 bird at a time. Also, no idea what breed my hens are. A mutt I suppose lol. U have no roosters, only hens. Any ideas would be so appreciated . I really don't want to lose my whole flock again

 

[Sonya.]

***WARNING: GRAPHIC PICS***

This is one of the dead ones

 

[Rammy]

So sorry for your loss. If you can find somewhere to have a necropsy done, Id take a hen and have it examined to see what caused thier death. With that many hens dying, hopefully its nothing contagious. Id refrain from getting more hens until you can identify the problem to make sure it wont affect your new hens.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What could cause a hen to bleed from underneath (honestly not sure if it's from the butt or what but is underneath, as in like if they was sitting down on the ground this is the part that they would be sitting on). One day they seem normal, the next day they will be sitting around with blood under them & the next day they're dead. I had this happen last year & out of 15 hens only 4 survived. Now it seems to be happening again. I had one die one day then another the very next day. This morning I have another with blood on her & sitting around. Last year it was during the rainy time if spring I believe. This time it is in February but it's been unseasonably warm & very rainy. Not sure if the warming up & rain has anything to do with it but the weather conditions were the same last time this happened. I'm thinking it has to be some kind of disease since it happens to more than 1 bird at a time. Also, no idea what breed my hens are. A mutt I suppose lol. U have no roosters, only hens. Any ideas would be so appreciated . I really don't want to lose my whole flock again

Where are you located (state/country)?
It would be very good to get a necropsy to find out the cause. We can help you find where to send the body.

If that's not possible, can you get more photos? Your housing/run, the vent of the hen, her face/comb, the feet and legs, etc.
May not be something you want to do, but if you can perform your own informal necropsy, that might shed some light on what is happening. Take photos along the way - look in the abdomen -is it full of fluid or blood, the intestines, heart/liver etc. Look for any wounds or torn flesh that may have been picked at.

What do you normally feed your chickens?
You have others that are not doing well right now? Photos of them would be good too.
Do they sit all the time? Do they lay eggs?

It's very hard to even make suggestions of what is going on. Seeking professional help is your best course of action.

 

[rebrascora]

If you can clean the blood up so that we can see the source of it.. ie. Where the wound is, that would be helpful.
Do your hens roost at night on a roost pole/bar? What height is it? Is it possible rats can get into your coop and target the sleeping birds.
What size is your coop? If your flock are confined due to bad weather and the coop is not large enough, the hens can get bored and frustrated and start cannibalising each other.

Other questions like what you feed them, how old they are and where in the world you are located would be helpful... nearest city or state and country is all that is required and can make a big difference to the advice given.

 

[micstrachan]

I agree it would be helpful to determine the source of the blood. Is there an injury? More like an attack or rupture? Or is blood coming from the vent?

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Poor girls. All questions asked so far will help give opinions. With it happening so many I would wonder are they doing it to each other, looking for protein and/or boredom could create the habit once started. What content protein in your feed? Do they free range or are they confined? If confined, how many chickens and how much space?