Seven dead hens within 4 hours, not attacked. UPDATE: Teflon Poisoning!

[AaronandAlice]

Sounds AWFUL

Agreed!

 

[bruceha2000]

I now see some Phoenix tail in those birds.

Hmm, shell in the mouth. Could be an egg broke, hopefully you didn't get one that intentionally breaks and eats them. If I have a broken egg in the nest it has (knock on wood) always all been there. But if I toss it out in the run, they will eat every bit.

Re the blood. Something to watch, see if you can figure out which girl it is. How big are the eggs relative to the hens? Unfortunately I don't know if there it a way to have them stop laying for a few days so they can heal if there is a tear. You would WANT that one to go broody so she will stop laying for a time.

 

[AaronandAlice]

I now see some Phoenix tail in those birds.

Hmm, shell in the mouth. Could be an egg broke, hopefully you didn't get one that intentionally breaks and eats them. If I have a broken egg in the nest it has (knock on wood) always all been there. But if I toss it out in the run, they will eat every bit.

Re the blood. Something to watch, see if you can figure out which girl it is. How big are the eggs relative to the hens? Unfortunately I don't know if there it a way to have them stop laying for a few days so they can heal if there is a tear. You would WANT that one to go broody so she will stop laying for a time.

There's a couple of them that have pretty sparse feathers where the eggs come out. Unfortunately, they don't trust me quite enough yet to have a good look. I'm not sure about them breaking them on purpose or not- I'm not even sure the person I got them from would know as each area had about 60 birds in it.

 

[CJsCoop]

Hopefully the move will cause them to take a long enough break to heal a tear.

 

[AaronandAlice]

Hopefully the move will cause them to take a long enough break to heal a tear.

Hopefully!

 

[Morrigan]

Are you sure the blood is from egg-laying? I've had some poor hens lay huge double yokers and have never seen blood like that.

Just speculating for a minute -- This is a new environment for these hens and perhaps there could be some squabbling and pecking as the re-establish their pecking order. Or, is it possible that Mr. Rooster could have tussled with one a little too hard during mating? I would try to check for torn combs or wounds around the neck face area.

Or could it be a foot wound? I'm cringing at the thought of that blood coming out of a hen's backside. Poor girl!

ETA: foot wound, not food wound, lol.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Pictures from this morning. When I first opened the door one was running around with an egg shell in its mouth. There were 2 eggs undamaged. My only concern is the blood- the guy said they lay so many eggs that they get sore back there, anything I can do but wait and see?

Can you scoop that bigger piece out (and a few smaller pieces) and put them on a white paper towel and re photograph?

It looks like it might be intestinal shedding, but...there is quite a bit, maybe from more than one? Anyway, I'm sure @TwoCrows and @casportpony will chime in, unless they have just started laying that does not look normal to me. Even some of the most prolific layers like Leghorns or Sexlinks, should not have sore bottoms and eliminate bloody tinged droppings.

When they go to roost tonight, try to inspect vents to make sure there are no wounds or prolapses. Is there blood on the eggs when they lay them?

fwiw- Rooster mating will not cause a bloody vent either since there is no penetration, there is just a "cloacal kiss" or if you will - touching of the vents.

 

[aart]

My only concern is the blood- the guy said they lay so many eggs that they get sore back there, anything I can do but wait and see?

Pfft! I don't think so.

I'm not even sure the person I got them from would know as each area had about 60 birds in it.

Exactly...could be a crowding issue.

Are you sure the blood is from egg-laying? I've had some poor hens lay huge double yokers and have never seen blood like that.
Just speculating for a minute -- This is a new environment for these hens and perhaps there could be some squabbling and pecking as the re-establish their pecking order. I would try to check for torn combs or wounds around the neck face area.

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[AaronandAlice]

Can you scoop that bigger piece out (and a few smaller pieces) and put them on a white paper towel and re photograph?

It looks like it might be intestinal shedding, but...there is quite a bit, maybe from more than one? Anyway, I'm sure @TwoCrows and @casportpony will chime in, unless they have just started laying that does not look normal to me. Even some of the most prolific layers like Leghorns or Sexlinks, should not have sore bottoms and eliminate bloody tinged droppings.

When they go to roost tonight, try to inspect vents to make sure there are no wounds or prolapses. Is there blood on the eggs when they lay them?

fwiw- Rooster mating will not cause a bloody vent either since there is no penetration, there is just a "cloacal kiss" or if you will - touching of the vents.

View attachment 1237070

I will go back up and try to get it. He fed them fermented grain every day, I don't know what causes what issues- but I do know on the way home their poop smelled awful. If they stay still I'll try to get a zoomed picture of their backsides as well.

 

[Morrigan]

It looked like there were also some bright red drops of blood of the wood near the nest box. That's what made me think that there may be a more conventional wound involved.