Did my chicken kill my chicks...or something else?

[AltonaAcres]

I think if it was a predator, the cage would be tipped over, as the predator would be trying to get in, and in the act the cage would be displaced. The cage looks easy to tip over from the pictures. On the other hand though, even though the wounds look a lot like BB gun wounds, I don't know how someone would manage to hit the underbelly of a chicken, and I don't know why they would do that.

 

[Ms Clucky]

Are the holes on both sides? If so, I'd hate to say this, maybe a bratty child. But I could be wrong.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Biggest evidence against a raptor is a dead chick was found in middle of cage. Raptor can pull but cannot pull. If delivers a killing bite or grab with talons, then the victim will be held against side of pen as it expires.

Not necessarily. Mine weren't on the side and one expired the next day from its wounds. If the chick got away, it could have crawled to the middle and expired there. Either way, hardware cloth is always the best way to go to prevent most attacks that might occur.

 

[Anaray]

That is horrible.

The fact that there is only 1 puncture that goes all the way through seems very iffy to me. Any mammal predator small enough to get into that cage would show 2 punctures per side, no?

 

[Suzi18]

I think if it was a predator, the cage would be tipped over, as the predator would be trying to get in, and in the act the cage would be displaced. The cage looks easy to tip over from the pictures. On the other hand though, even though the wounds look a lot like BB gun wounds, I don't know how someone would manage to hit the underbelly of a chicken, and I don't know why they would do that.

They would do it cuz some people are twisted and sick.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........................what a mystery! I'm stumped

 

[Amc29]

I don't think any animal would leave a single puncture wound all the way through, let alone leave the chicks in the cage. I'd really second that it might have been a BB pellet. Maybe an accident somehow? But it's awfully center-of-body to be an accident.
I think you need to go investigate those kids. Shooting at enclosed, defenseless chicks sounds like a big warning sign. Have there been any other suspicious animal deaths? Pets gone missing?

If that is what happened, it is unlikely it was an accident. We live on a fairly forested road. All the neighbors except for the one directly across the road (and terrain would make that unlikely) are separated from us by brush or trees . From our chicken area to the neighbors property line where the kids could possibly come from is probably about 100 yards, much of which is a hill of forest (cleared with paths, though). The other neighbors are separated by thick trees and brush.
As far as other animal deaths, I am not sure. We had a chicken go missing with no sign a couple months ago while we were away from the house for a couple hours, but that could have been the rare passing bobcat. We don't really know the neighbors, so I am not sure if they have had issues. If anyone did and it is associated with the kids (trying not to jump to that conclusion), it would probably be their other neighbors that live on another road deeper in the woods.
I do believe that the neighbor has chickens, so I may go down there and talk to him about whether or not he has had any problems with his chickens being bothered and maybe address it that way. I would hate for our introduction to come off as me accusing his kids, especially if they didn't do anything.

 

[Apocalypse]

That looks like a .22 to me but who knows. I have a bunch of pellets from a pellet gun shot into the side of my shed and coop, and it's from one of 3 houses facing my backyard... so yes, people are sick and will do that sort of thing.

 

[Bug n Flock]

Can you take more photos of the wounds? It isn't just kids who do messed up things to animals. When we found this dog in a field, she was full of bullet holes. Dog had been at large with a pack of small dogs for a year. everyone knew the dog and how sweet she was
bout a year.

 

[Bug n Flock]

Can you take more photos of the wounds? It isn't just kids who do messed up things to animals. When we found this dog in a field, she was full of bullet holes. Dog had been at large with a pack of small dogs for a year. everyone knew the dog and how sweet she was
bout a year.