bloody lump of meat?

[loving_allsorts]

Hi there,

I'm new to both keeping birds and this forum. I have had two hens and a pair of muscovys for about 2 weeks now. The hens are point of lay and wheen I was cleaning them out yesterday I found a little lump of raw meat (large pea in size) with a bit of blood around it :? . The hens have not yet laid. Could it be a plug like thing which they discard before they start laying or is it something bad I need to sort out. The hens share a house with the ducks and they are not yet settled with sleeping arangements, found two hens and a duck in one nest box the other day all cosied up!

I really have no bird keeping experience so don't know if the fleshy lump is normal or not.

Many thanks

Mark

 

[Tim]

Hi Mark,

I don't know what it is but I would definately check the back end of your hens. Sometimes hens can get a prolapsed oviduct (pokes out the back end) and others will very quickly peck at it (chickens love pecking red / blood).

I hope it's nothing serious but I'm afraid I don't have any other ideas at the moment sorry...

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mark,

I don't have a clue as to what you've found,but,could it possible be something they've found and taken into the house? Or,a mouse that has been killed by them?

 

[loving_allsorts]

oh... ...

I was rather hoping everyone would say.. you silly newbie! It's normal!

Oh dear. Well thanks for that guys

The other issue is that the hen who usually sits in this box has a snotty nose. it usually has some hay or seed stuck to it and its always moist. May be related I suppose..

It isn't off its food though.. I'll check it out at the weekend and make sure it's ok.

Mark.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mark,
I really wouldn't leave it to the week-end,hens can go downhill very rapidly due to their quicker metabolism.
They will go down quick but also recover quickly.
Having a snotty nose suggests a respiratory problem/infection.Which is best treated asap.