I think it was a snake?

[NanaLantana]

Well, I thought it might happen and it did. This morning I got up and found something had gotten 3 of my hen's 4 chicks. They were laying sprawled out on the floor of the nursery run. Upon close examination, I found one chick had it's neck very long stretched out, and it's head and neck were wet with slime. Maybe a smallish snake that tried to swallow the chick (10 days old) but couldn't manage the body. I checked the bodies of the other two, and could find no bites. But they were in funny positions, legs wide apart, etc. And I was so looking forward to seeing the feathering on those speckled sussex!

Oh, well. I have one black Minorca left with her mother. Hope she makes it.

My granddaughter came over and we had a little funeral service, and buried them. Life goes on - - - - - - - - -

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Yep...sounds like the modus operandi of the yellow rat snake. I've had the same thing happen to pullets and cockerals, til I finally caught it with 4 chicks buldging inside it, it was a 3 footer. Like you said, you're probably dealing with a smaller one.