3 month old chickens keep killing eachother in 10 by 18 coop with 5 gallon food dish and 2 gallon water what is the cause

[FunClucks]

If you can post pictures of the killed chickens, we can help troubleshoot what killed it. This may be upsetting for you, so you don't have to, but if we can see the wounds and feather pattern around the bodies, and where the body is at in relation to the rest of the coop (where you found it), that can help us figure out ideas. When you find the body, is it limp and moveable or stiff? This can help pinpoint time of death.

Pictures of your coop would also help, there may be some ways a predator is getting in that you haven't thought of that we might see (overall pics and edge/corner pics, interior and exterior).

Also if you can give us a picture of your roosts they sit on at night, and where the ones killed were sitting, and an idea of how much ambient light there is at night-time, this can help us to help you figure things out also. If your coop is not totally dark, they may very well be moving around in there.

What time in the morning do you let them out for the day? Is it right at or just after sunset? These attacks may be happening in the morning as opposed to during the night.

If you call the local pest control companies and ask what types of wildlife they catch, and the local department of fish and game, they may be able to tell you what kind of predators are in your area. In the Predators and Pests Forum they may have some good info for your area and also how to deal with just about any predator, and how to tell which one it is from the signs left after an attack.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/predators-and-pests.13/

 

[LaFleche]

Please, post pictures of your birds so we can determine if they are really all females.
You might have some clumsy males with surging hormones among them trying to mate their immature flock mates in the early morning light which can easily lead to death.

Installing coop cameras would help to see what exactly is going on.

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you so much for your advice I

i don’t think Vegas has raccoons but I did have a cat in the neighborhood did kill my rabbit last year

You have rats, coons, skunks there, have we see your coop to address security issues?

 

[Savdye]

If you can post pictures of the killed chickens, we can help troubleshoot what killed it. This may be upsetting for you, so you don't have to, but if we can see the wounds and feather pattern around the bodies, and where the body is at in relation to the rest of the coop (where you found it), that can help us figure out ideas. When you find the body, is it limp and moveable or stiff? This can help pinpoint time of death.

Pictures of your coop would also help, there may be some ways a predator is getting in that you haven't thought of that we might see (overall pics and edge/corner pics, interior and exterior).

Also if you can give us a picture of your roosts they sit on at night, and where the ones killed were sitting, and an idea of how much ambient light there is at night-time, this can help us to help you figure things out also. If your coop is not totally dark, they may very well be moving around in there.

What time in the morning do you let them out for the day? Is it right at or just after sunset? These attacks may be happening in the morning as opposed to during the night.

If you call the local pest control companies and ask what types of wildlife they catch, and the local department of fish and game, they may be able to tell you what kind of predators are in your area. In the Predators and Pests Forum they may have some good info for your area and also how to deal with just about any predator, and how to tell which one it is from the signs left after an attack.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/predators-and-pests.

Please, post pictures of your birds so we can determine if they are really all females.
You might have some clumsy males with surging hormones among them trying to mate their immature flock mates in the early morning light which can easily lead to death.

Installing coop cameras would help to see what exactly is going on.

 

[Savdye]

You have rats, coons, skunks there, have we see your coop to address security issues?

I just went to check my chicken out fully, her skull is exposed there is no meat left on her head

 

[Kiki]

Unfortunately you're coop is not predator proof.
You should invest in some half inch hardware cloth to cover any opening that is larger than a half inch.

 

[LaFleche]

There are big gaps between the door and the frame in the upper part as well as way too wide gaps on the metal thing covering the upper door.

 

[Savdye]

This is what she looked like

 

[Savdye]

This is what she looked like

I will have my husband help me fill all the gaps tonight thank you soo so much for help

 

[-Chanticleer-]

“When pressure occurs within the flock, pecking can increase in aggression and escalate to cannibalism”.

I think this is what is happening to your flock.
Chicken cannibalism.