Hi all,
As usual, I'm seeking advice again.
Yesterday morning Hubby let the birds out and didn't notice anything unusual. They went straight to the food bowl as per normal.
When I took them a treat in the afternoon, I noticed that one of the cocks had dark speckles on his comb and wattles and what appeared to be dried blood on his neck. I checked for an egg or two and noticed specks of blood on the wood shavings so I opened the rear doors to see how much more there was. I was horrified!!! Blood splatters were everywhere; back, sides and both doors. The ceiling and roost were something else with smears of blood virtually covering the whole lot.
It obviously worried me and thought a fight had taken place but upon inspecting the cock (as best I could because he is quite timid where humans are concerned) he appeared to be fine. I can't believe either that so much blood can be produced without obvious damage to the birds and, apart from that, if birds don't get on, the best time is to put them together is at night.
Thinking again this morning and keeping a close eye on their behaviour towards each other, I wondered if a mouse had wandered into the coop, been spotted by the cock and been killed.
I know we have mice on the land and that some members have said that their chooks have caught mice. Do you think it's feasible that a mouse has been pecked and shaken so violently by a cock for there to be so much blood?
Hope someone can offer a possible explanation.
Pauline.