coop hen murder

[Old Man Chicken]

The coop is a converted building about 100 sq. ft. lot is about 50 sq. ft. The feed is scratch feed oyster shells Laying mash 18% protein and they always have a flock block
with them. constant water. The feed is all Purina brand and was milled or made in Aug.
There are 11 Hens and NO Rooster. They are Green Eggers.

 

[lazy gardener]

How many birds? Those dimensions provide enough space for about 10 birds. If they are crowded, aggression can become an issue.

I'm wondering if your scratch and flock block are diluting their protein content too much???

What breed? A lot of the mediteranean birds have a rep for being more aggressive.

 

[Old Man Chicken]

They are green eggers. But I will say this I bought this batch from Southern States in
April of 2016. The breeder is out of Tenn. and I have no idea what breeds they crossed
to get their green eggers. And I had 12 hens in the area I gave.

 

[Leighe]

Was she already dead?

LofC gave a great response in your duplicate thread here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coop-hen-murder.1196323/

Definitely @Lady of McCamley gave some excellent possibilities. Shame the two threads can't be combined....I would have never known about the response on the other thread. Thanks @aart for pointing it out.

 

[barred2rock]

Definitely @Lady of McCamley gave some excellent possibilities. Shame the two threads can't be combined....I would have never known about the response on the other thread. Thanks @aart for pointing it out.

Here you go:

Okay...several thoughts here.


1. She was killed by some predator, beheaded by it, and what you saw was normal chicken behavior of eating the leftover carnage. (Raccoons are notorious for beheading then leaving).


2. She was ill and they attacked the weak link. One thing led to another, as she languished on the ground.


3. They do not have sufficient protein and have resorted to cannibalism. Check your feed sources.


4. You've got them in way too tight of quarters and a serious fight broke out.


5. Your lighting schedule is off...you have them in way too much lighting and the wrong kind of lighting. Prolonged lighting can cause feather picking and cannibalism.


6. Genetic proclivity...bad bunch of birds. Sometimes cannibalism breaks out for unknown causes often linked to poor genetics.


The possibilities I see. Answers will depend upon what is the most likely scenario.


My thoughts.


LofMc

 

[Leighe]

Here you go:

Thanks @barred2rock! You are awesome!