Found one of my hens pecked to death

[Brittcity]

Hello,

I found one of my hens pecked to death. I’m new to the chicken life so does anyone have any reason why this would happen and what to do ??

 

[WIchickMama]

How old? Did you find her in the coop, secured run or other place?

 

[Brittcity]

How old? Did you find her in the coop, secured run or other place?

I’m not exactly sure I got them from someone else. They told me they were just starting to lay. Yes I found her in the coop.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Hello,

I found one of my hens pecked to death. I’m new to the chicken life so does anyone have any reason why this would happen and what to do ??

So sorry! How many chickens do you have, and how big is their space? Can you post pictures of your setup? Has there been anything stressing the chickens recently - predators, a move to new digs?

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Why are you certain she was pecked to death? Might it have been a different animal?

 

[Eggcessive]

Was she new to the other chickens? How much room did they have? Have you examined for any wounds that could be from a predator?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Welcome to BYC! I'm so sorry this happened, not a fun time. It happened once to me too, 2 ladies took turns pecking her while roosting and in the morning I found her with a broken neck. That was 20years ago when I first started out with all RIR's and in a very small coop/space. Are yours overcrowded by chance?? After that incident I've made sure to give them at least twice the recommended amount of coop space.

 

[Brittcity]

So sorry! How many chickens do you have, and how big is their space? Can you post pictures of your setup? Has there been anything stressing the chickens recently - predators, a move to new digs?

I can post pictures in a few of the coop, It’s somewhere near 12x16.
We just got them about august 15th ish.
I had 12 hens but now since this, 11.

 

[Brittcity]

Why are you certain she was pecked to death? Might it have been a different animal?

They are in an enclosed roofed coop/run. I saw them all pecking her when I stopped in the check on them. At that point she was already bloody.

 

[Eggcessive]

Cannibalism can be a problem if they are overcrowded, don’t get out to free range, are not getting enough protein in the diet, and it can happen with some more dominant breeds. What are they eating? Sorry for your loss.