Killer Chicken?

[getaclue]

Your set up looks good for about 3 chickens. In my experience, sex links can be terrible bullies. Not all of them, but they have that tendency, and it's not just about pecking order. Overcrowding, too much continuous light, and one being a terrible bully could produce these results.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Were the chickens allowed to free range outside of this space most of the time? If they spent much of the time locked in, I could see problems developing. It's a pretty tight space for 5 birds and there's also no obstacles to allow picked on birds to hide behind to get relief (nor room realistically to put them in). Wondering if they were feeling crowded enough that stress turned into deadly aggression.

Weasels are often culprits in sneaky attacks but they still need a gap to get in. If you've gone over the fencing carefully and don't see any openings larger than 1/2" (probably more around 1" for a weasel, but 1/2" for rat), then it couldn't have gotten in. I know you said the bottom of the enclosure is covered in chicken wire, but I assume you've checked that for any signs of damage as well? And haven't seen any sort of tunneling around the edges that could be caused by rats or other burrowing critters, that a weasel could follow to get in from underneath?

I didn’t even think about a rat! Gross! No signs of tunneling and no damage to the wire protection underneath. I actually misspoke, it’s actually that tougher grade square hole fencing that he attached on the bottom so tougher that chicken wire.
I had no idea that’s all the tiny little space a rat or weasel would need. I’m going to go over the whole set up again with a fine tooth comb.

yes to answer your other question, they free range several times a week. Although it might have been less during the time the deaths occurred. It was December and I was away for work a lot.

 

[Mablethechicken]

What would a rat attack look like? Anyone know?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I didn’t even think about a rat! Gross! No signs of tunneling and no damage to the wire protection underneath. I actually misspoke, it’s actually that tougher grade square hole fencing that he attached on the bottom so tougher that chicken wire.
I had no idea that’s all the tiny little space a rat or weasel would need. I’m going to go over the whole set up again with a fine tooth comb.

yes to answer your other question, they free range several times a week. Although it might have been less during the time the deaths occurred. It was December and I was away for work a lot.

Generally speaking, manufacturers standards for chicken accomodations are on par with commercial requirements which very poor standards for chickens. It's always best to do your own math. Unfortunately I've had to learn this the hard way.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Your set up looks good for about 3 chickens. In my experience, sex links can be terrible bullies. Not all of them, but they have that tendency, and it's not just about pecking order. Overcrowding, too much continuous light, and one being a terrible bully could produce these results.

Really only 3? Lies tractor supply! Lies! Maybe it’s time for a bigger coop. Husbands gonna LOVE to hear that!

 

[Mablethechicken]

Would a weasel or rat really only kill one and then leave? Also wouldn’t it eat the chicken or no? There wasn’t really any flesh missing.

 

[Mablethechicken]

What is the square footage of the coop? My only guess is maybe they didn't have enough room. Ideally they should have about 10 square feet per bird. If it was a predator and not another bird I don't have any guesses. I hope you can figure it out. I'm sorry about your birds!

10 SF for each chicken just in the coop or including the run?

just measured and the original run plus the run extension combined is 50 SF not including the actual coop/nesting boxes.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Your set up looks good for about 3 chickens. In my experience, sex links can be terrible bullies. Not all of them, but they have that tendency, and it's not just about pecking order. Overcrowding, too much continuous light, and one being a terrible bully could produce these results.

I feel like this might have been what happened. Just can’t see how a predator would’ve gotten in.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

10 SF for each chicken just in the coop or including the run?

just measured and the original run plus the run extension combined is 50 SF not including the actual coop/nesting boxes.

I personally include coop and run if they are all in the same enclosure, but I've never been told any differently so I could be wrong! Regardless, it doesn't sound like space should be the issue. Could you consider a camera? I got the Wyze camera from Amazon. It was super cheap and I can pull of the live feed from my phone and it helped calm my nerves a lot regarding predators.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Were the chickens allowed to free range outside of this space most of the time? If they spent much of the time locked in, I could see problems developing. It's a pretty tight space for 5 birds and there's also no obstacles to allow picked on birds to hide behind to get relief (nor room realistically to put them in). Wondering if they were feeling crowded enough that stress turned into deadly aggression.

Weasels are often culprits in sneaky attacks but they still need a gap to get in. If you've gone over the fencing carefully and don't see any openings larger than 1/2" (probably more around 1" for a weasel, but 1/2" for rat), then it couldn't have gotten in. I know you said the bottom of the enclosure is covered in chicken wire, but I assume you've checked that for any signs of damage as well? And haven't seen any sort of tunneling around the edges that could be caused by rats or other burrowing critters, that a weasel could follow to get in from underneath?

What do you recommend I put in there as obstacles? There’s 50 SF with both runs added together not including the upper coop. I think that’s enough space to fit some thing for them to
hide behind until we upgrade to something larger. Any suggestions?