4 Grown Chickens killed at night

[Satsynana]

What could have killed 4 grown chickens overnight in our secure coop? No visible wounds. No blood or missing feathers. No sign of struggle. We have 44 more in the same area & Im so concerned. I’m putting our game camera in there today.

 

[cherrynberry]

What could have killed 4 grown chickens overnight in our secure coop? No visible wounds. No blood or missing feathers. No sign of struggle. We have 44 more in the same area & Im so concerned. I’m putting our game camera in there today.

Well...clearly the coop is not secure. Any holes? Any sign of a predator?

Could be a lot of things.

 

[azygous]

How many other chickens do you have? What was their behavior as you were discovering the dead chickens? Anything unusual about how they were behaving that was different from how they usually behave?

First, verify that the coop has no uncovered vents where a predator could climb the side and slip through. Inspect the doors and windows for any cracks or where coverings don't fit snugly. It's unlikely a predator could pull a Star Trek trick and suddenly materialize on the inside of the coop and leave in the same magical way.

So that leaves a toxin that these four managed to get themselves exposed to in the last 24 hours. Do you have a compost pile where rotten food is tossed? Do you have small children who could have slipped these chickens some of their Halloween chocolate? Have you cleaned any paint brushes with thinner in the area where your chickens were scratching around yesterday?

 

[cmom]

So sorry for your loss. Maybe a weasel. They are quite the killers and can squeeze through the tiniest places. There are several videos on youtube and some on BYC of them picking off the birds as they roost unexpectedly. Good idea putting a camera up. Good luck...