[Silkysmooth]

Hi All,

since yesterday evening I have been finding blood in a few of the shavings in the nesting boxes but none of these on the eggs. several birds have blood smears on them but I can't actually find a bird with any visible injury! could this be from the back passage and what could it mean?

Many Thanks

Andy

[joyfull]

have you had any extra large eggs recently?
Looking around their vent areas  is there any protrusions out? have they had any feathers pulled out?
I would be quite concerned about several having blood smears - where abouts are the smears?

[Silkysmooth]

Hi Joy,

some are on a few chickens near their necks but there is no sign of injury at all!

can't see any protrusions either.. and no large eggs too!

[joyfull]

it sounds like they may have had a little squabble and one has had its comb caught. A little nick in a comb makes a lot of blod and when they shake their heads it does go everywhere - it usually looks far worse than it really is.

[Pretty Chick]

it sounds like they may have had a little squabble and one has had its comb caught. A little nick in a comb makes a lot of blod and when they shake their heads it does go everywhere - it usually looks far worse than it really is.

Yes, our white orpington had a small nick in her comb and blood was everywhere - all over the other chickens, all over the houses, all over the feeders ect.  :blink:
The cut in her comb didn't look that bad, but still shed a lot of blood!