Hen pecked to death by flock

[Garrett33]

I’ve had my flock of about 20 chicken (including 2 roosters) and 2 turkeys locked in their coop/run now for about a month due to living near migratory routes and water sources. They have all been fine, (yet antsy and wanting to get back to free ranging) but recently when I checked my flock in the afternoon one of the hens that was fine in the morning was totally pecked to death…! Why would this happen now out of the blue and to this one hen? It hasn’t happened since or prior. She was a typical hen, nothing off or injured about her…and now just pecked to death. In fact when we went in to see her, they were still pecking at the lifeless hen. The good news is that we are letting the flock out today; since the bird flu threat has passed. It’s bad enough I need to worry about Lynx, bobcats, bald eagles, coyotes and hawks…I don’t need the worry about my own flock killing each other…help!!

 

[Buckingham Palace]

It could have been that they did not have enough space.

 

[Buckingham Palace]

I’m soo sorry for your loss.

 

[townchicks]

I agree, not enough space. Also. were the turkeys in with the chickens? They should have a separate run, for when they need to be confined.

 

[Garrett33]

I agree, not enough space. Also. were the turkeys in with the chickens? They should have a separate run, for when they need to be confined.

I had not heard that turkeys need their own run; why and when do they need to be confined? Also, the female lays her eggs anywhere…will a Turkey use a large nesting box on ground level if I build one? We “inherited” a male and female Turkey and are way behind on the learning curve…I’ll take any suggestions…

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Its also possible she died of natural causes and they pecked at her after. Stress and lack of space can make birds crazy.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

How much space did they have?

 

[Garrett33]

How much space did they have?

The run is about 12x12

 

[coach723]

12 x 12 is really small for that many birds, particularly with roo's and multiple species.
Without a necropsy it's impossible to know why the bird actually died, it could have been something hidden and not obvious, they are really good at hiding symptoms. The stress of being confined could have triggered it, no way of knowing. Birds cannibalizing a dead flock mate is not uncommon, so the pecking could have happened after she died.

 

[Dhkoenig]

Its also possible she died of natural causes and they pecked at her after. Stress and lack of space can make birds crazy.

that is what I was thinking. i am so sorry - I know how hard it is to lose one. One of mine died instantly of a ruptured liver a few weeks back - the liver wasn't fatty, but I guess there was some genetics there - anyway I found her I think a few hours after she died, but I imagine if it was much longer than that, the hens would have started picking at her. If that is the case, which I bet it is, then you don't have to live with the idea of them just randomly killing her. <3