Help! Cannibal chickens

[Jrios58]

Overnight one of my chickens was killed by the others, feathers everywhere and poor Bucky dead under the coop, no feathers left on her head, neck and shoulders. One of the remaining 11 has blood all over her head and neck, I'm thinking she was the main perp. They had plenty of food and water, they aren't over crowded. All around 10 months old.
Should I get rid of the chicken who I think was the ringleader? My neighbor has wanted to buy a couple of mine (she's had hens for years, down to a few older ones now). Obviously I would let her know my suspicions about this one.

 

[RojoMarz]

Was Bucky sick, prior to the incident?

What are your coop and run dimensions?

 

[Jrios58]

Was Bucky sick, prior to the incident?

What are your coop and run dimensions?

She wasn't sick, but i had noticed evidence of being picked on before. Not constant- just occasionally. The coop itself is 4' X 8' X 5ft tall. They have the space under the coop, 2ft tall. Plus a 20X 4 ft attached enclosure that they can be in as well, i only lock then in the coop part at night if it's going to be extremely windy, cold or stormy. I let them out during the day regardless of the weather. their coop/enclosure is inside a 50 ft round pen.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Overnight one of my chickens was killed by the others, feathers everywhere and poor Bucky dead under the coop, no feathers left on her head, neck and shoulders. One of the remaining 11 has blood all over her head and neck, I'm thinking she was the main perp. They had plenty of food and water, they aren't over crowded. All around 10 months old.
Should I get rid of the chicken who I think was the ringleader? My neighbor has wanted to buy a couple of mine (she's had hens for years, down to a few older ones now). Obviously I would let her know my suspicions about this one.

Do you have a light on in your coop all night?
Show photos of coop and run (inside of coop).

 

[LizzzyJo]

I am suspicious about this murder. In my experience pullets don't murder someone unless there is something seriously wrong before hand or they have huge open wounds. I think you may have an alternate predator. But that's just my 2 cents take it or leave it.

 

[Jrios58]

Do you have a light on in your coop all night?
Show photos of coop and run (inside of coop).

No light. They have 12 nest boxes and 3 roosts. I'll send pics later, (at work)

 

[Cryss]

Are you sure your suspect has becky’s blood and not her own? Could she also have an injury? Something could have attacked them. Then the flock would peck at the bloody corpse left behind.

 

[wf1992]

Are you sure your suspect has becky’s blood and not her own? Could she also have an injury? Something could have attacked them. Then the flock would peck at the bloody corpse left behind.

x2

Head wounds on chickens seem to bleed profusely, and I've been horrified a couple times now by blood that turned out to be a nicked comb.

 

[Jrios58]

No light. They have 12 nest boxes and 3 roosts. I'll send pics later, (at work)

 

[Jrios58]

x2

Head wounds on chickens seem to bleed profusely, and I've been horrified a couple times now by blood that turned out to be a nicked comb.

I'm pretty sure the blood on 'Killer's head and neck are Bucky's. Everything else about her is fine. We have hardware cloth around the enclosure, and buried at the base. Nothing larger than a mouse can get in there. I just don't want this happening again, if i need to get rid of a couple hens, if they are overcrowded, I'm fine with that-