[lindaball1961@gmail.com]

Hi there. I hope someone out there can help me. One of my hybrid hens has been laying eggs streaked with blood for a few days but did not seem otherwise bothered-eating and drinking well etc. My husband did the  girls this morning as I had to take my daughter to doctor, so I did not check them till late morning when I was horrified to find one girlie with blood on her rear end. I suspected at least one of the others of pecking her so I immediately removed her, gently washed her vent area and had a look. I cant see much if any of a prolapse, but on advice have cleaned her again and smeared haemorrhoid cream around the area. I put her in a separate ark with plenty of clean bedding. Just now I checked her again and she seems more comfortable, eating and drinking now, whereas this morning she seemed very shocked. Is there anything else I should be doing to make her more comfortable, please? I love all my sweet girlies to bits and want to make sure that I'm doing all I can!! Many thanks-Lin

[mojocafa]

Could she be needing wormed?

[colliewobbles]

Oh dear, we have had exactly the same today.  We have cleaned and treated her tonight and put her to bed in a cat carrier in the summer house, away from the others.  We are hoping things improve for her tomorrow but it's horrible isn't it?

Our girl came from Little Hen Rescue a few days ago and this is common in ex-batts.  The rescue have some really good advice on their website which we have used.  You can find it here:

http://www.littlehenrescue.co.uk/Pages/Medicaladvice.aspx

Donna

[lindaball1961@gmail.com]

Thanks for your replies! I'm new to this and need all the advice  I can get! I will certainly worm them asap as this can only be beneficial. My little girl is a lot happier today but I will keep her separate for a little while longer to make sure there is no blood to attract further pecking. Would it be an idea does anyone think to transfer her to another house with a cockerel and other hybrids? I don't want to confuse the issue but I had noticed that there seems to be less squabbling in the house containing Bubble the cockerel! Many thanks for all your help -Lin

[suziequeue]

A cockerel is the best antidote for squabbling :-)

We had our hens for a couple of years before we decided to have a cockerel in and I must say that when we introduced some new hens recently there wasn't a tenth of the squabbling compared to when we introduced hens before he was on the scene.

He really keeps the flock together and it's great to see. He's a gent too and doesn't tread them too often and doesn't pick on one particular hen either.

[lindaball1961@gmail.com]

Thanks Susiequeue for your reply. I may well try her with Bubble the cockerel and his girls when she is better. I think part of the problem has been that she was in a house with 2 strong personalities and as she is a timid girl this made her an easy target. She's much better today and is eating and drinking well, so fingers crossed she has turned the corner . Best wishes and thanks!-Lin