Found Hen in Heaven this morning

[kids&chicks]

I went out this morning to let the girls out and found one of them dead. The others were huddled together in an opposite corner.

My question is she was fully intact, their was some skin pulled away from her neck, but no bite wounds or blood that I could find. Her feathers were almost matted with "saliva" or something, but it was dry. I have scoured posts (which I have already learned so much, Thank you all), but cannot figure out what could have gotten in and done this.

We do have feral cats that run around, I know their is a black snake that like to hang out in the front of the house, but he is the only one I have seen. I have not seen fox, raccoon or possum. Which I know does not mean they are not there. Any suggestions? My hubby went out and reinforced everything and put up more wire, boards and made sure all was tight. Poor things did not even want to go in the coop this evening

 

[beefy]

had she been pecked by the others?

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Oh, so sorry about your loss. Someone on a post earlier this weekend had a "critter cam" set up to take pictures so she could find out what was happening around her chickens. I would be so tempted to do the same thing if I lost one of mine!

I hope everything is good tonight, good for DH and his reinforcements!

 

[ibpboo]

I do not know what could have done that, but sorry for your loss.

 

[kids&chicks]

Quote:
I don't know?? What would cause them to do that?
Since their was no blood and I would think that will another predator their would be something,, just skin pulled away from the neck.

 

[beefy]

if there wasnt much blood i would guess that the other chickens had been pecking at her after she died. maybe.

or possibly a weasel or something had infact bitten her and drained her blood.

or perhaps she had gotten her head stuck in some chicken wire and escaped but still died from the stress or something.

 

[SpottedCrow]

the snake could've tried eating her, but she was too big for him and he "spit" her out.

 

[Bluedog420]

I would say it was a snake...it happened to me, here in Ky....find snake...kill it

 

[d.k]

* Was her neck wound front or back of the neck?? If front, I'd say daytime predator of some sort. . . Sorry about your girl. Hope you catch the culprit.

 

[shaky]

Snakes will try to eat half-grown pullets. They'll constrict them, kill them, then try to eat them. They can only get as far as the chest. I found three dead in a coop in one night like that. Their head and neck feathers will be slicked down.
Again, I still prefer snakes to rats.