Decapitated chicks inside cage?

[fanynany]

and as for the other chick, im thinking it was the siblings but not entirely sure, have been cleaning and applying ointment, chick also has been separated from the rest.

 

[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

 

[Prince and Pavo]

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

 

[Chookwagn]

Hello, just yesterday i came home to a dead chick in its cage, it’s entire neck was exposed and it’s head tucked under the cage.
i went ahead and moved their cage and ensured there wasn’t space to crawl under, im not exactly sure where it’s body was as there is a few other chicks and mom and they scratch and move things.
Came home today, another dead chick, head hanging off, neck exposed and another chick has the back of head and neck area exposed and bleeding, i went ahead and took mom and her remaining kids and put them into another cage/coop.
??? are they getting their neck stuck? is mom pecking them dead?

i also had a hen with 3 chicks, two months old, unfortunately i do have to keep babies and moms in enclosed areas as there is cats and dogs nearby that are fiends for baby chicks.
i saw that she has started to be aggressive with them and desperate to leave her space so i decided to let her go back outside and and left the 3 on their own, they were doing good, 2 days ago or so i come home, 2 have blood and bald spots, 1 of them is entirely bald and swollen and bleeding also found a scab located above his crop earlier. disinfected with iodine and another solution .
i went ahead and separated them from the other two and have kept them separate since.

what is going on

(i’d also like to note that there is usually someone constantly watching them but there was a family emergency and had to leave for a few weeks, i attend school and work so it is difficult for me to be home before a certain time and be aware of what is going on)

Ferret / stoat / weasel

Would be my guess..... they like pulling heads

 

[MountainWoman73]

Ferret / stoat / weasel

Would be my guess..... they like pulling heads

Those are solid guesses. Raccoon would be mine.

 

[lifein1840]

Hello, just yesterday i came home to a dead chick in its cage, it’s entire neck was exposed and it’s head tucked under the cage.
i went ahead and moved their cage and ensured there wasn’t space to crawl under, im not exactly sure where it’s body was as there is a few other chicks and mom and they scratch and move things.
Came home today, another dead chick, head hanging off, neck exposed and another chick has the back of head and neck area exposed and bleeding, i went ahead and took mom and her remaining kids and put them into another cage/coop.
??? are they getting their neck stuck? is mom pecking them dead?

i also had a hen with 3 chicks, two months old, unfortunately i do have to keep babies and moms in enclosed areas as there is cats and dogs nearby that are fiends for baby chicks.
i saw that she has started to be aggressive with them and desperate to leave her space so i decided to let her go back outside and and left the 3 on their own, they were doing good, 2 days ago or so i come home, 2 have blood and bald spots, 1 of them is entirely bald and swollen and bleeding also found a scab located above his crop earlier. disinfected with iodine and another solution .
i went ahead and separated them from the other two and have kept them separate since.

what is going on

(i’d also like to note that there is usually someone constantly watching them but there was a family emergency and had to leave for a few weeks, i attend school and work so it is difficult for me to be home before a certain time and be aware of what is going on)

have you seen any evidence of rats? that's what it sounds like to me

 

[tennisgal]

I have heavy duty fencing 2x3" around all sides and top of the coop and run. raccoons were able to reach in, pull the heads of my chicks who were sleeping along the fence and take their heads off. The same day I added two feet around the entire base of 1/2 inch wire that that nothing could reach in. No problem since.

 

[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)

 

[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]

need opinion on separating mom and chicks , not sure what is going on, i could go ahead and put mom and 4 babies inside but worried she might poke them, should i separate the injured babies and the mom and her two okay and safe babies and place them all inside?