Dead chicken

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otisandgretel

otisandgretel

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jun 22, 2014
3
1
32
new jersey
Hi, I live in Roseland, NJ, where we are allowed to have 3 hens for eggs only. Recently we were on vacation and the person who was feeding my chickens came across 1 of them dead with her insides eaten out. My coop is a shed with a chain link fence for a run. It has a roof and is lined with deer fencing as well. If the dead chicken was the weakest of the three, could the other two possibly do that damage to her or should I assume a predator somehow managed to get in? It isn't easy, and I've only seen small rodents like chipmunks sneak in to steal seed on the ground.
 
Look for clues of how it got in. I'd say your chicken sitter forgot to close the pop hole one night, so they probably got in via the run. Check there tomorrow.

Was there damage to the head at all? If it was just the belly, I would say it was a possum.
 
otisandgretel said:
Hi, I live in Roseland, NJ, where we are allowed to have 3 hens for eggs only. Recently we were on vacation and the person who was feeding my chickens came across 1 of them dead with her insides eaten out. My coop is a shed with a chain link fence for a run. It has a roof and is lined with deer fencing as well. If the dead chicken was the weakest of the three, could the other two possibly do that damage to her or should I assume a predator somehow managed to get in? It isn't easy, and I've only seen small rodents like chipmunks sneak in to steal seed on the ground.
Click to expand...
If it was ripped apart like that I'd say it was probably a weasel or maybe a Fisher Cat since they(especially weasels) can squeeze through small hole even chain link fence. Sorry for your loss.:hit
 
Fanci Feathers Marans said:
Look for clues of how it got in. I'd say your chicken sitter forgot to close the pop hole one night, so they probably got in via the run. Check there tomorrow.

Was there damage to the head at all? If it was just the belly, I would say it was a possum.
Click to expand...
The head was fine, just the belly was ripped open. We don't have weasels in this area, but a possum is a possibility although I've be we seen one in my area.
 
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