Veterinary advice should be sought from your local veterinarian before applying any treatment or vaccine. Not sure who to use? Look up veterinarians who specialize in poultry using our directory listing. Find me a Vet

Vent Pecking

Vent pecking is an abnormal, habit-forming behavior where hens will target another hen's vent to peck at, causing damage to the surrounding skin and underlying tissue. It can be fatal to the hen under attack, unless there is quick intervention. Since birds are attracted to pecking at the color red, a bird who has existing damage to her vent which causes it to bleed, or has a prolapse where red tissues are exposed, is at risk of vent pecking.

Clinical Signs

Witnessing hens peck at another hen's vent

Wounds around the vent area

Finding a dead bird with vent portion of their body pecked out

Diagnosis

Clinical signs
Physical exam

Treatment

Intervention: Remove the bird under attack from the flock and assess wounds/damage. Depending on the severity, you may need to bring the bird to the veterinarian. Treat wounds accordingly and do not place back in with the others until her vent has fully healed. :

Support

Prevention

Provide enough space for birds (do not overcrowd)
Provide lots of enrichment items and activities
Remove any hens from the flock with any sort of irritation or injury to the vent, until they have fully recovered/healed.

Scientific References

Sirovnik, Janja, et al.. Feeding from perches in an aviary system reduces aggression and mortality in laying hens Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2018)
Daigle, Courtney Lynd. Controlling Feather Pecking and Cannibalism in Egg Laying Flocks Egg Innovations and Strategies for Improvements (2017)
Lambton, S. L., et al The risk factors affecting the development of vent pecking and cannibalism in free-range and organic laying hens. Animal Welfare (2015)
Rodenburg, T. B., et al The prevention and control of feather pecking in laying hens: identifying the underlying principles. World's Poultry Science Journal (2013)
Lambton, S. L., et al Risk factors affecting the development of vent pecking and cannibalism in loose housed laying hen flocks. Proceedings of the Poultry Welfare Symposium, Cervia, Italy (2009)
Crespo, Rocio, and H. L. Shivaprasad.. Developmental, metabolic, and other noninfectious disorders Diseases of poultry (2003)
Pötzsch, C. J., et al. A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of vent pecking in laying hens in alternative systems and its associations with feather pecking, management and disease Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2001)
Kjaer, J. B., and Poul Sørensen. Feather pecking behaviour in White Leghorns, a genetic study.. British Poultry Science (1997)
Blokhuis, H. J., and J. G. Arkes. Some observations on the development of feather-pecking in poultry Applied animal behaviour science (1984)
Hughes, B. O The effect of implanted gonadal hormones on feather pecking and cannibalism in pullets. British poultry science (1973)
Hughes, B. O., and I. J. H. Duncan The influence of strain and environmental factors upon feather pecking and cannibalism in fowls. British Poultry Science (1972)

Risk Factors

Any existing injury to the vent
Vent/cloaca prolapse
Overcrowding
Boredom
Commercial egg laying hen breeds
Birds with fewer feathers around the vent are predisposed as victims.