coop hen murder

[Old Man Chicken]

I have easter egger hens today they just up and killed one of their coop mate's. pecked the top
of her head off. Question is why? When I opened the coop door they were all guilty had her in the
corner they were all having at her. any idea's out there.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

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