Bloody wounds under vents

[Tracyree]

Last week I found a hen with a huge bloody wound under her vent. Took her to the vet and it was superficial so i have her separated and am treating with Vetericyn. Today I just found another with the same wound. It’s huge. About 4”x4”. Is this a bully hen causing this or can something else cause it?
The vent itself is fine, is the skin underneath.

 

[azygous]

Yes, cannibalism does occur in a flock, but it's more common that a predator of some sort is inflicting the damage. We can't tell you what it is because we aren't there. But you can sleuth around for clues.

What is your location? It will give us an idea of what sorts of wildlife you have there.

Is your coop predator proof? Is it rodent proof? Are there any cracks or gaps up high or very narrow, thin cracks down low? Rats can collapse their skeletal frames to fit through a crack that is a mere one inch wide. Rats have been know to eat the exposed flesh of chickens as they sleep helpless on their perches.

Owls can fly through a narrow vent high on the coop wall to gain access to the chickens as they sleep. Similarly, raccoons are very adept at finding narrow cracks in a coop to gain access. They will do that sort of damage. Weasels of all sorts can squeeze through cracks to enjoy eating parts of chickens as they are helpless in a coop at night.

You need to go over every square inch of your coop and run to find these tiny, nearly invisible entry points. Small mesh hardware cloth should be used to close off any cracks or gaps.

 

[Tracyree]

they are in a fully enclosed run with 1/2 hardware cloth and even a buried apron. No gaps bigger than 1/2”. Windows have hardware cloth, vents have hardware cloth. In middle TN

 

[azygous]

I have watched a rat squeeze through a crack half an inch wide and two inches long. They cannot squeeze through a half inch square opening, but if it's a long slender gap, they breeze right through.

Never assume your coop and run is totally secure when injuries are occurring.

 

[Tracyree]

I’m not assuming. I’m distraught trying to figure it out. I just installed a smart camera that will tell me if it sees a rodent

I suspect it’s a bully hen, but looking at all possibilities. The wounds are really bad, hard to believe a hen could do that.

Odd that the two that were hurt are the only two of that breed. I think the first one had had diarrhea a while back and maybe the bully hen started pecking at her dirty bottom. I took the wounded girl out and maybe the bully hen turned in the only look alike.

 

[Tracyree]

I do have droppings boards and dont see any rat poo on them.