Posted 2018-11-16 12:29 PM (#7413636) Subject: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Go go girl
I have two older geldings, in seperate pens. Both have what seems to be a small scrape and bleeding on their back right leg, on the outside about halfway between the hock and fetlock. The ground is hard and frozen, the only thing I can think of is they scrape it laying on the hard ground and then reopen everytime they lay down/get up. Anyone ever seen this? I have had these two horses for a very long time and havent had this happen before. One of them always seems to have a small nick or scrape here and there on his legs cause he is clumsy and runs around alot, but it seems odd that they both have the same thing, same spot.
Added pictures. The black horse has blood frozen to leg, the actual spot that is bleeding is smaller.
Posted 2018-11-16 5:35 PM (#7413662 - in reply to #7413636) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Go go girl
Anyone ever had magpies bother their horses? Have seen some hanging out in their pens but haven't actually seen them on the horses, have seen them on the cattle but they aren't causing any wounds on them. Just wondering if they could be the cause. Also have 3 other horses unaffected.
Posted 2018-11-16 7:37 PM (#7413671 - in reply to #7413636) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Go go girl
Yeah, it is weird! They are seperated by electric fence, and neither one is a kicker. They are coming 18 and 22, been in eachother's lives for the past 16 years. They are out 24/7. We have coyotes but they've never bothered the horses, it doesnt look like an animal bite. Just one small scrape or point of bleeding. I am baffled! The horses are in a line of pens, and the two younger horses on the ends don't have a scratch or blemish on them. It's just so weird how its in the same spot on both of them.
Posted 2018-11-19 7:53 PM (#7413859 - in reply to #7413636) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Go go girl
Thanks for asking :-) The black horse hasn't opened his back up, it is just a little tiny scrape. I took the wrap off the gray and he opened his back up just a little so I am going to keep it wrapped until it heals. It is also a tiny scrape. My best guess is the laying down on the hard ground and maybe when they push up they are scraping it on that hard ground.
Posted 2018-12-04 3:15 PM (#7415462 - in reply to #7415459) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Witty Enough
Posts: 2700 Location: Tx
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 3:08 PM Figured it out...Magpies! Going to build a trap on Thursday and kill the SOBs!
Wait, what?? You are telling me those birds are pecking at the horses??? Wow!! Never heard of that.... You'd think they would get kicked as soon as they start!! Anyway, glad you figured it out and can take action!!
Posted 2018-12-04 3:20 PM (#7415463 - in reply to #7413636) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Go go girl
Insane isn't it? I have lived here 16 years and they have never bothered any of the livestock before. They have started eating the chestnuts and "extra toes" on the gray horse. I went out to do noon chores and one of the horses was laying down and a magpies was sitting on her head right between her ears. Not sure what is up this year, but we are going to wipe them out!
Posted 2018-12-04 7:45 PM (#7415476 - in reply to #7415463) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 7024 Location: Arkansas
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 3:20 PM
Insane isn't it? I have lived here 16 years and they have never bothered any of the livestock before. They have started eating the chestnuts and "extra toes" on the gray horse. I went out to do noon chores and one of the horses was laying down and a magpies was sitting on her head right between her ears. Not sure what is up this year, but we are going to wipe them out!
This reminded me of a recent episode of Alaska the Last Frontier that we watched and the crows or ravens etc. were eating the eyes/tongues of the calves as they were born or soon after. Glad you aren't having to deal with that.
Posted 2018-12-04 10:03 PM (#7415479 - in reply to #7415476) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Go go girl
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-04 6:45 PM
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 3:20 PM Insane isn't it? I have lived here 16 years and they have never bothered any of the livestock before. They have started eating the chestnuts and "extra toes" on the gray horse. I went out to do noon chores and one of the horses was laying down and a magpies was sitting on her head right between her ears. Not sure what is up this year, but we are going to wipe them out!
This reminded me of a recent episode of Alaska the Last Frontier that we watched and the crows or ravens etc. were eating the eyes/tongues of the calves as they were born or soon after. Glad you aren't having to deal with that.
Me too, I worry about the lambs and calves in the spring so we are going to take care of them now. Strange how they have never caused any trouble before now
Posted 2018-12-04 10:26 PM (#7415481 - in reply to #7415479) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 7024 Location: Arkansas
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 10:03 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-04 6:45 PM
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 3:20 PM Insane isn't it? I have lived here 16 years and they have never bothered any of the livestock before. They have started eating the chestnuts and "extra toes" on the gray horse. I went out to do noon chores and one of the horses was laying down and a magpies was sitting on her head right between her ears. Not sure what is up this year, but we are going to wipe them out!
This reminded me of a recent episode of Alaska the Last Frontier that we watched and the crows or ravens etc. were eating the eyes/tongues of the calves as they were born or soon after. Glad you aren't having to deal with that.
Me too, I worry about the lambs and calves in the spring so we are going to take care of them now. Strange how they have never caused any trouble before now
That's exactly what Charlotte Kilcher said on there!!!! She said they usually had to deal with bears or such if the cows calved away from home, but usually didn't have to worry about anything right at the house. . . . And now these birds were just devouring some of the babies alive.
Posted 2018-12-05 8:40 AM (#7415491 - in reply to #7415481) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
Member
Posts: 33 Location: Hiding from Reality
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-04 10:26 PM
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 10:03 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-04 6:45 PM
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 3:20 PM Insane isn't it? I have lived here 16 years and they have never bothered any of the livestock before. They have started eating the chestnuts and "extra toes" on the gray horse. I went out to do noon chores and one of the horses was laying down and a magpies was sitting on her head right between her ears. Not sure what is up this year, but we are going to wipe them out!
This reminded me of a recent episode of Alaska the Last Frontier that we watched and the crows or ravens etc. were eating the eyes/tongues of the calves as they were born or soon after. Glad you aren't having to deal with that.
Me too, I worry about the lambs and calves in the spring so we are going to take care of them now. Strange how they have never caused any trouble before now
That's exactly what Charlotte Kilcher said on there!!!! She said they usually had to deal with bears or such if the cows calved away from home, but usually didn't have to worry about anything right at the house. . . . And now these birds were just devouring some of the babies alive.
We had a bird (there was a bald eagle sitting in the tree when we discovered her) kill a cow while having calf about 8 years ago. Went for her eyes. We found her pretty early but coyotes had gotten to her calf. This was all in the middle of the day. Sad deal.
Posted 2018-12-05 8:07 PM (#7415549 - in reply to #7415491) Subject: RE: Mystery bleeding lower back leg
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 7024 Location: Arkansas
hereiam - 2018-12-05 8:40 AM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-04 10:26 PM
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 10:03 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-12-04 6:45 PM
MrsHound - 2018-12-04 3:20 PM Insane isn't it? I have lived here 16 years and they have never bothered any of the livestock before. They have started eating the chestnuts and "extra toes" on the gray horse. I went out to do noon chores and one of the horses was laying down and a magpies was sitting on her head right between her ears. Not sure what is up this year, but we are going to wipe them out!
This reminded me of a recent episode of Alaska the Last Frontier that we watched and the crows or ravens etc. were eating the eyes/tongues of the calves as they were born or soon after. Glad you aren't having to deal with that.
Me too, I worry about the lambs and calves in the spring so we are going to take care of them now. Strange how they have never caused any trouble before now
That's exactly what Charlotte Kilcher said on there!!!! She said they usually had to deal with bears or such if the cows calved away from home, but usually didn't have to worry about anything right at the house. . . . And now these birds were just devouring some of the babies alive.
We had a bird (there was a bald eagle sitting in the tree when we discovered her) kill a cow while having calf about 8 years ago. Went for her eyes. We found her pretty early but coyotes had gotten to her calf. This was all in the middle of the day. Sad deal.
Lord that's just horrible. . . . All this made me remember an article I read not long ago in our local REA magazine about black vultures (I think) doing what you described, and how it was getting worse.