Losing hens. Yellow coming out of behind. Please help. Photos attached

[karebare6379]

A week ago I started seeing a swollen vent with a yellow substance coming out. Was told to use blue coat to see if the other chickens would stop picking on it. Works for a bit then starts again. The chickens have started dying. Please help me to know what is going on. Thank you

 

[azygous]

It's likely you have some serious cannibalism in your flock. This can be because of poor diet or overcrowding. The hen at the very bottom has an obstruction in her oviduct, thus the white discharge and swollen vent. If other hens have the same obstruction, that may be why they're being injured - chickens are attracted to raw meat. Blue-kote is like trying to treat a broken leg with a bandaid. Your flock appears to be in serious trouble.

How many chickens? How many hens? How many roosters?

How old are they? Have these hens been laying? When was the last time you saw eggs from them?

What do you feed them? Do they get outside in the sunlight? Do they get regular exercise outdoors in natural sunlight?

If they are cooped up, how large is their run/coop?

 

[karebare6379]

OK, alot to answer. 10 months old, all hens laying except Leghorns. I get 20-30 eggs a day. 10x20 coop with boxes and roosts and a 20x40 run. I feed then layer and scratch with greens and veggies and fruit. 6 roosters to 50 hens. They spend all day with the coop open to the run. They play on the outdoor play sets and they do dustbathing and rooting.
They also live with 6 ducks they were raised with.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that you have lost some. Since this cannibalism has probably has been going on for awhile now, have you separated your ducks (males and females) from your chickens? How much room do the chickens have, and what are you feeding them? Do they all get outside to roam and free range each day? I would separate any that are bleeding. Vent pecking cannresult from seeing a prolapsed vent, but common casues are overcrowding, feeding too little protein, boredom from not getting out to free range, too much light inside the coop in laying areas or from increased lighting in winter, and aggression in some breeds or male ducks.

 

[karebare6379]

They can not free range due to hawks, fox and neighbors dog. I feed then layer pellets and scratch with leafy greens, veggies and fruit. The ducks are being moved this weekend to a separate run and coop that is being built. The male ducks aren't aggressive but I do have a Delaware that mounts everything from roosters to hens to ducks. They eat enough that they have leftovers. The coop has 2 small windows and the door is open all day long to go into the run to play.

 

[Eggcessive]

From reading your last thread, you have 90 chickens including 4-5 roosters, and 8 ducks. This is way too crowded for the size coop you have. If they were getting outside to free range it might ease things a bit, but I would try to make more room or have fewer chickens. Scratch has only half of the protein they need, Iwould limit that or cut it out, and have them just eat the balanced feed they get. Eggs, tuna, and sunflower seed which are high in protein for any snack.

 

[karebare6379]

They have been reduced to 58 chickens, an animal got into the coop one night and killed a good number and I have lost 12 in 2 days to the vent crap. I counted tonight and I'm losing my mind. No one can tell me what is happening to the hens that are dying. No egg binding to be found. I have always added diatomaceous earth to the bathing spots they love. I feed 3 scoops to 1 scratch with oyster shell mixed in once a week.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some links to read about vent pecking and cannibalism:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/vent-pecking

https://poultry.extension.org/artic...ibalism-in-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks/

 

[azygous]

You are within your rights by most state laws to shoot the neighbor's dog if it molests your livestock. I've had this problem with a couple of my neighbors, and I felt no reluctance in laying down the law to them - confine your dogs or they will be shot and you will be notified to come pick up the dead bodies. I meant it. These people knew I meant it. The dogs were confined or given away. Problem solved.

Your property is for your use, not your neighbor's dogs' use, and your livestock most certainly doesn't exist for the pleasure and entertainment of the neighbors' dogs. A little assertiveness can make life so much better for everyone. Neighbors sometimes need training just as their animals do. The law is on your side. Remember that.

Your chickens would do much better kept separate from the ducks. Chickens thrive much better in flocks consisting of just chickens. Hens need exercise and sunlight to be able to absorb vitamin D and this is necessary to absorb calcium. Improper absorption of calcium results in reproductive issues, often leading to death. Poor calcium absorption can lead to egg binding due to poor shell quality, shell-less eggs, and even unregulated ovulation. Hens need lots of room to range and exercise outdoors in direct sunlight for best quality of life.

Your run is only just barely adequate for that many chickens. If you were able to get the neighbor to confine their dog, the hawks would be manageable by putting up low ramada-like structures for them to run under if they spot a hawk overhead. Dogs are your worst predator, but you can shoot them, while the hawks are protected.

 

[karebare6379]

The dog is not the only problem. I just checked with a neighboring farm. He has video and trail cam of fox, coyote and cougar. And I just came in from the coop and found a raccoon trying to get into the coop. Time for a trail cam and some traps.
I can just fence the back of the property. It'll be an 8th of an acre, which will work. Hoping the separation will work this weekend.