Down to just two chickens.

[donaltman3]

I am down to two Hens... Has anyone found dead hens in their run area where just there neck had injuries? Last night my full sized hen had a nickle to quarter size hole in her throat. No other damage was seen. What would do this but not do further damage? I was shocked there weren't even many feathers on the ground.

 

[aart]

Has anyone found dead hens in their run area where just there neck had injuries?

Nope, my run has a metal mesh roof.

Last night my full sized hen had a nickle to quarter size hole in her throat. No other damage was seen. What would do this but not do further damage?

Might have been a raptor and it's meal was interrupted by your presence.
What time of day did you find the victim?
Weasels will just bite neck and drink the blood.

 

[donaltman3]

Aart.. my run is enclosed with wood fencing to waste high and bird net from waist high to 6 foot. Something tore a whole or made a hole about 6 inches in the netting.

I found the dead hen at 5 pm.. still daylight. It was seen before at around 10 am.
No real signs of struggle.. did not see any off footprints in the sand. Not much blood and almost no feathers.. it was really odd compared to my other hen deaths over the years.

Hadn't happened really long as my chicken was still limp and kind of warm to the touch. Maybe it was a bird.. have not heard an owl or anything like that.. this was a full-size hen.. one of my largest. It was a big hen. My bantam and one road island red was 1/2 and 3/4 her size hiding in the coop when I went to check on them and discovered her.

 

[aart]

Something tore a whole or made a hole about 6 inches in the netting.

Got a pic of the hole?
Any fur stuck to it?

 

[tdan]

I had two pekins killed between 4/5 by a persistent owl. only neck damage on one a rooster interrupted. Pretty much daylight but they are in a shaded/wooded area.

Lock them down and get a camera up. Put them up mid afternoon and see when the predator shows up.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

So sorry to hear of your loss

 

[donaltman3]

So sorry to hear of your loss

Thank you. This spring I will be moving the coop and run to another area of my yard and starting a new group of pullets.

 

[donaltman3]

I had two pekins killed between 4/5 by a persistent owl. only neck damage on one a rooster interrupted. Pretty much daylight but they are in a shaded/wooded area.

Lock them down and get a camera up. Put them up mid afternoon and see when the predator shows up.

I've heard an owl in the past but not for quite some time. Mine too is in a corner of my yard that is under some large trees. Half the run is 6-foot fence corner of my lot.. the other is the picket fencing. It feels more sheltered than anywhere else in my yard.

 

[Fluffyflufffluff]

I am down to two Hens... Has anyone found dead hens in their run area where just there neck had injuries? Last night my full sized hen had a nickle to quarter size hole in her throat. No other damage was seen. What would do this but not do further damage? I was shocked there weren't even many feathers on the ground.

Rats Usually do that. I was wondering. yeah i know.. they kinda kill like vampires.