Found my hen blossom dead

[Eggcessive]

Weasels can get into as much as an inch of a hole, as there is with chicken wire. Using 1/2 hardware cloth on windows and runs can help keep them out. I try to do a head count every evening when I lock up my coop, and a few times, a hen was accidentally locked out.

 

[Abriana]

Weasels can get into as much as an inch of a hole, as there is with chicken wire. Using 1/2 hardware cloth on windows and runs can help keep them out. I try to do a head count every evening when I lock up my coop, and a few times, a hen was accidentally locked out.

I always use hardware cloth, and do a headcount, and because i have now fifteen and they are all close pets I always make sure every single one is accounted for.
Are weasels nocturnal? I thought they were but this happened in the late morning/early afternoon. I am hoping it was the hawk because I know my rooster can protect them from that (he was in the coop at the time, he was bleeding and the hens were pecking him, and I know that he would have flown over the fence to save her from a hawk) but a weasel, he won't stand a chance.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, weasels are nocturnal. It wouldn’t explain the 2 marks on her, but botulism can cause the feathers to easily be pulled out. Of course, it may be another reason, such as molting. I don’t know if death would also cause feathers to come out easily. I am always learning things here from other posters. I hope you figure out what happened.

 

[Abriana]

Yes, weasels are nocturnal. It wouldn’t explain the 2 marks on her, but botulism can cause the feathers to easily be pulled out. Of course, it may be another reason, such as molting. I don’t know if death would also cause feathers to come out easily. I am always learning things here from other posters. I hope you figure out what happened.

Then it couldn't have been a weasel, because it happened during the day. She was born in March, so it couldn't be molting.

 

[alexa009]

So sorry to hear about your hen's loss, If there is ever anymore dead or missing then I would try to secure the pen or coop just in case of predators just to be safe. It probably wasn't a predator though, it could of been anything like falling off the plank of the coop and hitting her neck in the wrong spot. I am so sorry about poor blossom! I am just saying this because I had the same exact problem with mine until we started finding out it was a possum, then we had to build a secure coop.

 

[Abriana]

Just got online and read that weasels are thought to be nocturnal but are up and around in the daytime more during the summer than winter.

 

[Abriana]

So sorry to hear about your hen's loss, If there is ever anymore dead or missing then I would try to secure the pen or coop just in case of predators just to be safe. It probably wasn't a predator though, it could of been anything like falling off the plank of the coop and hitting her neck in the wrong spot. I am so sorry about poor blossom! I am just saying this because I had the same exact problem with mine until we started finding out it was a possum, then we had to build a secure coop.

definitely wasn't an accident, like falling. She was lying in the middle of a bunch of feathers, with feathers strewn in every direction. coop is definitely very secure, hardware cloth over any opening, I have an electric fence and it needs to be fixed, very light shock I can barely feel it, which is why I'm even more concerned.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Maybe a stray dog attacked her.

 

[Abriana]

Maybe a stray dog attacked her.

Seems very unlikely, my collie Beau would have been going nuts and there was no blood or tears. I do however have a strange cat wandering around, but there would be blood right?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

This is very odd.