Please help all my chickens are bloody and I don't know what to do!

[mychookschick]

My hens were fine this morning...I went out around lunch time to let them out and right around their "fanny" they are all very bloody and hamburger-like!

I don't have a clue how to clean it! should I put bag balm on it or leave them alone?

I really need help I'm afraid that this is going to continue and I might lose them! Please post back with any possible answers or suggestions.... thank you for any help!

~Jenny

 

[jjthink]

Definitely don't leave them alone. Can you observe them closely for the next couple of hours to see who is doing what to whom, in case the culprit can be identified and separated from the rest? (rescue and separate anyone clearly getting hammered and not the troublemaker)
How many birds - how much space per bird in the coop and in the run, if you have a run? How long have you had the birds? How old are they? I'm assuming they are pecking each other and that nothing else is getting to them?
The answers to these questions will help determine the solution.
I would clean their bums and apply neosporin or bagbalm and/or you may need to use Bluekote to discourage continued pecking.
JJ

 

[Keg]

until you get better advice from someone more learned here, separate them. they'll be ruthless with each other and peck each others' wounds.

have multiple chickens got the same issue? have they prolapsed (pushed some of their reproductive tract out)? or do they have bloody droppings, staining their feathers.

are they vaccinated for coccidiosis?

can you post photos?

 

[mychookschick]

Quote:
Thanks for the quick response...

We haven't observed any behavior like you describe...but we assume they are fighting as there is no evidence of anything getting into the coop.

We bought these hens as chicks last spring...no new additions to the flock, etc.

We have 24 hens and 1 roo -- the roo is separated because we originally thought he was plucking feathers off one of the hens.

The coop is about 15'w x 40'l. We have about 50 nesting boxes and a huge stair-like perch for them. They are free-range outside...no run.

 

[mychookschick]

Quote:
Yes, we have multiple hens with the same issue...the man I just spoke with at Farmer's Union thinks they may be trying to work out a new pecking order. He suggested we get "BLUEKOTE" -- an antiseptic spray that will keep them from cannibalizing each other. My daughter is on the way to the store to get some.

I do not believe that anyone has prolapsed and there are no bloody droppings...just raw "fannies".

I don't know how to post pics -- sorry!

I'll keep you updated as to what happens...

Thanks for all the quick suggestions...

 

[Renee']

Have you checked the girls for bugs (i.e. mites)? Maybe dust them with DE or sevin, as well as their coop?