Help/I think I have a bully

[DMH]

I am a novice. 6 chickens all raised at the same time. I have been very successful for 20 weeks until I went out to open the run gate for a for some free range time and found my Speckled Sussex, bloody and feathers scattered. No predators can get in my fortress with exception of maybe a snake. Cleaned up and and first thing this morning I whet out and my cream leg bar was sitting by herself. i picked her up to find feathers plucked from breast area and 1 inch diameter bloody area. She has been removed and placed in my vegetable garden. Help? I suspect I have a bully but not sure who??? All chickens are plump, well fed, watered, lots of perches, not to hot.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

The one with blood on its head and beak.

Can you describe your fortress?

 

[DMH]

The one with blood on its head and beak.

Can you describe your fortress?

Pallets covered with underground fence wire 8 inches deep with cinderblock on top, sides and top all covered with heavy wire, 400 pound coop within the fence. Pallet gate with fencing covering it. No openings.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What sized wire are you using, mainly how big are the openings? Could a raccoon or something else reach through? Can you post a photo of that fortress? What size is the coop and what size is the run, in either feet or meters. What sex are the chickens, all pullets?

Where was the Sussex injured? On the head or somewhere else? Usually when chickens attack each other they go for the head. I did have a hen groom the rooster by plucking feathers off his throat. She eventually created a raw wound, not from attack but by grooming. He just stood there and let her do it.

Where are you located? That might give us a clue as to potential predators.

It sounds like one attack was probably during the day and the other could have been at night or maybe early morning after sunrise?

I don't know what is going on. It could be one of the chickens or it could be something else. Some more information night help narrow it down. These things can be difficult to figure out sometimes.

 

[aart]

I'm guessing rodent..rat or maybe weasel.

Ditto on the dimensional details and pics requested by RR.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC.....sorry you're having troubles.

 

[azygous]

I agree with RR. It's highly unlikely your chickens did this damage. You may believe nothing could get through your "fortress", but some predators are extremely clever.

A raccoon has very slender, nimble paws that can get through very small gaps to do very great damage.

Unless you have no more than half inch mesh on your screening, and zero tolerance between gate and frame, a raccoon or other small predator can get to your birds.

 

[DMH]

What sized wire are you using, mainly how big are the openings? Could a raccoon or something else reach through? Can you post a photo of that fortress? What size is the coop and what size is the run, in either feet or meters. What sex are the chickens, all pullets?

Where was the Sussex injured? On the head or somewhere else? Usually when chickens attack each other they go for the head. I did have a hen groom the rooster by plucking feathers off his throat. She eventually created a raw wound, not from attack but by grooming. He just stood there and let her do it.

Where are you located? That might give us a clue as to potential predators.

It sounds like one attack was probably during the day and the other could have been at night or maybe early morning after sunrise?

I don't know what is going on. It could be one of the chickens or it could be something else. Some more information night help narrow it down. These things can be difficult to figure out sometimes.

 

[DMH]

Thanks to all your answers. Yes, I thought no one could get through the pallets with 1 inch hard wire over pallets, cinder block right up against the wires and pallets plus 2 inch over top of that and covering top. Gate too. However, with much research, thinking a weasel. The one hit last night seems to be recovering well with TLC and blue coat. Spent the day reinforcing with 1/2 inch hard wire. Hung some loud wind chimes from the gate. Decided to put chickens locked inside the coop now. I am in NC, and hate to make them go in the coop at night but looks like I need to to keep them safe. Thanks again to all who responded. I am sure it won't be the last time I ask for advice. I have my first lost under my belt now, so I know that feeling.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I am a novice. 6 chickens all raised at the same time. I have been very successful for 20 weeks until I went out to open the run gate for a for some free range time and found my Speckled Sussex, bloody and feathers scattered. No predators can get in my fortress with exception of maybe a snake. Cleaned up and and first thing this morning I whet out and my cream leg bar was sitting by herself. i picked her up to find feathers plucked from breast area and 1 inch diameter bloody area. She has been removed and placed in my vegetable garden. Help? I suspect I have a bully but not sure who??? All chickens are plump, well fed, watered, lots of perches, not to hot.

Get over your supposed engineering talents. Hen & roosters peck the top of the heads of their opponents or else they flog their backs. I am almost sure that you have a predator in your run. I will surmise a weasel.