HELP--VERY CONFUSED

[jemima12]

I have/had a small flock of 8. Thelma & Louise (Light Brahmas), Onyx & Jemima (Black Australorps) , Scarlet (RIR), Henny and Penny (Silver Laced and Sex link), Barb (Barred Rock). My husband went to the coop yesterday and found a light brama in the nesting box dead. Upon further inspection I found a hole at the base of her skull and a huge puncture/ripped up area under her right wing. My dog then found an Australorp outside of the pen. I inspected the rest of them and my other brama had a huge punture/rip under her right wing and later died. I can't find the body OR remnants of my Barred Rock anywhere). Any ideas? I converted my shed into a coop and the have a chain link pen attached to it. The pen is pretty much burried and there are bolders around it, however I did find a small (like the circumfrence of a soda can) space between 2 bolders. With the bite at the base od the skull and the small opening I was saying weasel BUT how did it get them out of the pen? Even if for some reason it pulled it in parts, there is NO blood in or out of the coop or pen and no body parts or remnants. I just don't get it. I locked my remaining ladies in last night and set a trap but didn't get anything. I have been researching and going through my mind but still can't seem to figure it out. Does anyone have any ideas on what this could be???

Thank you
RIP...Jemima, Thelma & Louise & Barb

 

[cafarmgirl]

Is the pen covered?

 

[zazouse]

So sorry for your loss.

how old were/are they?
If your pen was not covered it could have been an owl or coon, but with punctures to the head and a laseration under the wing i would lean towards a bird of prey if the top was not covered where they were kept.

 

[jemima12]

The top is covered with fencing and there are no gaps or hols or anything.

 

[longlegz86]

Could they be fighting each other and you have one thats just really mean?

 

[jemima12]

They would have been 3 this spring and Jemima was HUGE so really don't get how she ended up outside. It's killing me being this stumped

 

[jemima12]

My husband sugjested that but why all of the sudden? They've all been together since chicks and nothing has really changed. Also if that is the case where is the body of the barred rock? aaaa

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Is the fencing buried into the ground? Mine started digging out. They would a small hole and squeeze through. The hole looked too small and I didnt believe it until I saw them do it. If it is not buried maybe this is a possibility - something dug in or they dug out?

The one that is missing might be hidding. I had a neighborhood scare and one of my chicken disappeared for 3 nights. I thought she was dead until she just showed up again.

I'm so sorry

 

[jemima12]

Yes it's burried by probably 8-10 inches of wood chips inside and big bolders outside. I pushed and pulled around the whold pen and it doesn't move. Thank you, Jemima was my baby I miss her

 

[longlegz86]

Look around and see if you see feathers any where else around the yard or around the pen. That may give you a idea if something drug them off... Make sure to check in the bushes around that area as well.. From the sounds of it...something is pecking at them and killing them... Im not sure a hawk would be small enough to get in there.. something sounds weird.....