HELP! My chickens are getting killed!

[theadrick33]

We have (had) 7 young chickens (about 18 weeks): two roos and 5 hens. The roos seemed to be getting along fine, although one was definitely more dominant than the other, and we were hoping to keep them both. Two days ago we got our first egg. Yesterday morning we went out to let them out (they free-range during the day) and the more submissive roo had been attacked and mutilated. Needless to say, we were devastated and assumed that the dominant roo killed him. This morning when we went out, one of the hens had been attacked as well. She was still barely alive, but we put her out of her misery. Is this the rooster and/or other members of the flock killing each other? Our coop has been very secure up to this point, and I don't think predators can get in (but I'm a newbie, so what do I know?). Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I want to take steps to make sure we don't lose any more!

 

[Gargoyle]

So sorry to hear this. Search the perimeter of your coop and run, look for any weak spots.

Please describe the injuries so that people here can try to determine what animal caused them.

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

I think you have a predator problem. A few months ago I was in the same situation as you, and I was losing a bird a day. Set a live trap beside the coop and put catfood or tuna fish in there and see what you get. I caught an owl. It could be something you least expect!!

 

[centrarchid]

Since bodies not removed, fox and coyote not likely.


Could a hawk / owl fly in from above?


What about raccoon or opposum activity?

Tighten up coop at night. Place a live-trap baited with chicken carcass in location a mammal might try to access coop / run

 

[ladyrsanti]

Don't rule out the roo. My sister had to cull a roo after it killed a pullet, pecked her head clean off.

 

[centrarchid]

Don't rule out the roo. My sister had to cull a roo after it killed a pullet, pecked her head clean off.

Possible but way down list of probabilities. If true, then husbandry technique needs to be scrutenized.

 

[theadrick33]

Thanks, Gargoyle.

Rhubarb (the roo) was nearly unrecognizable. No head, lots of feather loss (looks like they were plucked?). No visible major puncture wounds or lesions, he basically looked like he had been pecked to death. Minerva (the hen) had most of her feathers, an open roundish wound on her neck and another on the "shoulder" area of her wing. The only feather loss was in this area. She was still alive, huddled over on the ground, unable to stand.

 

[theadrick33]

The roof area in entirely covered. There are only a few very narrow gaps (one by the door and another near a window), but I will definitely reinforce them.

 

[centrarchid]

Lack of head indicates predator, not another chicken.

 

[Gargoyle]

Loss of the head and the open neck wound (the attacker going for the crop) both indicate a predator. A weasel can get into a 1" diameter hole, that is a possibility.
That's why my run is surrounded with 1/2" hardware cloth, not chicken wire.