Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: jertzee on January 30, 2011, 16:11

Title: I can see blood but can't see where it is from...HELP!!!!
Post by: jertzee on January 30, 2011, 16:11

I have just gone to put my chooks away and noticed blood splattered around the feeder and a bit in the coop. The blood around the feeder has been splattered pretty much all the way around and in some places looks like it is a blood covered flakey bits.

I have inspected their heads and beaks, as well as their "hole" and I can't see anything - it all looks clear.

However I have spotted a bit of blood splattered around the mesh of the coop where they drag their beaks across it on days sometimes...not sure whether because they are bored or want different food.

I have no idea where the blood is coming from.

The chooks all feel healthy, they are all eating and drinking and laying and there is no blood on their poo or on the eggs.

The coop seems clean and no mites or fleas or anything.

I am at my wits end on this.

They have been out all day today and seem in fine health , no fighting or anything.


Ok, I have 4 chooks in an 11 feet x 4 feet run and coop (for 9).

They spend 2 days holed up in the run and let out into the garden on the other days from anything between 30 mins and 6 hours.

Anyone any idea where the blood could be from?

Title: Re: I can see blood but can't see where it is from...HELP!!!!
Post by: Aunt Sally on January 30, 2011, 17:14

Perhaps one of the hens caught a mouse and killed it  :ohmy:

Title: Re: I can see blood but can't see where it is from...HELP!!!!
Post by: jertzee on January 30, 2011, 17:23

No, it's not a mouse... something else.... I saw a bit of blood yesterday too.

Title: Re: I can see blood but can't see where it is from...HELP!!!!
Post by: Pol on January 30, 2011, 17:49

Hi,
They do drag their beaks across things to clean the food off.
Has the mesh got any sharp bits on it.
Have you looked at their wings and under the wing I have a hen that had a cut there and it was the last place I looked, or if it was not a mouse what about a frog
Pol

Title: Re: I can see blood but can't see where it is from...HELP!!!!
Post by: Sassy on January 31, 2011, 08:47

It could be from one of their combs. I had this happen and the blood was all round the feeder where they had continued to feed. It is it is difficult to see where on the comb and even whose comb. If you find where it is from bathe in a weak salt solution and it should be fine.

Title: Re: I can see blood but can't see where it is from...HELP!!!!
Post by: jertzee on January 31, 2011, 12:53

Quote from: Sassy on January 31, 2011, 08:47

It could be from one of their combs.

I think it must be - the position of the blood on the feeder is the right height for the combs. I'll have a closer look later but I think it is almost certain to be that.

If I cannot fins whiich of the 4 chooks it is (it could be more than 1) should I wash all of their combs?