Decapitated chicks inside cage?

[Hucklekree]

Raccoons, weasels, and other predators can reach through that size mesh. Coons especially have no problem reaching in and just grabbing whatever they can get ahold of.

 

[StinkyAcres]

unfortunately too iffy to put rat poison out as i have cats, haven’t seen many rats around since i have cats, i’ve never seen them reach through the cage but might’ve been it

Poison is not the answer. A more secure cage is. Needs to be 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

 

[LhickenChicken]

Poison is not the answer. A more secure cage is. Needs to be 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

Or maybe move them inside?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

That wire gauge is just way too big. Can you line it with half inch or less? Flock mates (Sibling's,) don't do that kind of damage and the list of what does is really long. So just make the cage much better and you might not have more losses.

 

[aart]

Usually we keep biscuit and her babies in a big pen , since i’m not able to keep an eye on them all day for the time being we moved them to a more “secure”
(or so i thought) cage, which is out in the open with the free roaming chickens, this is the netting View attachment 3464092

Looks like about 1", need to halve that...as already mentioned.

 

[fanynany]

probably should’ve kept it one chicken per thread to avoid confusion but yes will be lining the cage for safety, usually i keep the front lined with multiples of these little panels but again i never expected something to reach in and this cage is only used for emergencies

 

[fanynany]

As for the older chick (no severe wounds, just bald and a little swollen), there’s little chance something might’ve gotten inside or reached inside since it is lined with double mesh and covered and the bottom is lined with bricks and etc, perhaps small animals but it’s highly unlikely, i have tried to reunite it with his siblings but they peck at him. i don’t think an animal attacked the older chick. (personally)

 

[Prince and Pavo]

Yeah, the balding wouldn’t be from any predator… that’s really strange.

 

[fanynany]

Yeah, the balding wouldn’t be from any predator… that’s really strange.

yeah he also has little cuts and bruising as any chicken who got into a fight with another chicken would, the other two had blood on them but only small little peck marks, didn’t think they could be aggressive at a young age but again no adult chicken in there, no way a cat could’ve gotten to him, there would’ve been more serious wounds if so.

 

[fanynany]

Came home 2 more injured, no way any cat could’ve gotten in there or reached through, went ahead and moved them inside. they all have some sort of scratch or cut on their neck, is it mom ??