Killer Chicken?

[Mablethechicken]

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.

I’m definitely doing that! Thank you!

 

[getaclue]

four foot x four foot is the general rule for chicken footage....more is better.

 

[aart]

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!

Generally it's 4sqft per bird in the coop and 10sqft in the run.
that is, in most experienced keepers opinions, a minimum.
Can depend on climate and if run can be weather and predator proofed.

four foot x four foot is the general rule for chicken footage....more is better.

That would 16sqft.
4sqft would be two foot x two foot.


@Mablethechicken
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It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Mablethechicken]

Generally it's 4sqft per bird in the coop and 10sqft in the run.
that is, in most experienced keepers opinions, a minimum.
Can depend on climate and if run can be weather and predator proofed.


That would 16sqft.
4sqft would be two foot x two foot.


@Mablethechicken
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2107513

@aart will definitely do that! Thank you!

 

[sealer39]

I suspect that your last chicken is the culprit. With that deep litter in the runs it may be difficult to see if anything is burrowing in. Inspect it carefully. If you can’t find an entry point then I would have to conclude your last hen killed the rest. It looks like your coop is 4’x4’ and your runs are 4‘x8’ and 10’x10’. That should be plenty of room for 4 hens. Some hens can be so mean it doesn’t matter how much room you give them. They need to be culled. Typically any predator that gets in your coop is going to do more damage that what you are describing. If it were me, I’d cull the last hen and start over with 4 or 5 more pullets.

 

[Mablethechicken]

I suspect that your last chicken is the culprit. With that deep litter in the runs it may be difficult to see if anything is burrowing in. Inspect it carefully. If you can’t find an entry point then I would have to conclude your last hen killed the rest. It looks like your coop is 4’x4’ and your runs are 4‘x8’ and 10’x10’. That should be plenty of room for 4 hens. Some hens can be so mean it doesn’t matter how much room you give them. They need to be culled. Typically any predator that gets in your coop is going to do more damage that what you are describing. If it were me, I’d cull the last hen and start over with 4 or 5 more pullets.

Thank you for your input! It’s really what I’ve suspected all along and also heart breaking. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it. She’s been with me for a long time now and she’s a consistent egg layer. However, she did kill (among the others) my favorite chicken who I nursed back from the brink of death after a raccoon attack. I might try to talk my husband into working on separate coop quarters. I think they’ll be fine while free ranging but don’t want them locked up together.
Thank you all for your thoughts!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I can definitely can do the math and figure it out but I don’t think space is the issue. It says it can accommodate up to 8 chickens. I never wanted to max it out so the most I had was 5. Plus we added that additional run on the side and we let them free range a few times a week.

One thing to mention is that the silly things all laid eggs in the same nesting box even though there’s 3.

Problem with manufacturer claims is they're often using bare legal minimums (like commercial farm numbers) to calculate space. Not surprisingly chickens in factory farm settings have their beaks cut off to prevent them from killing one another due to stress and crowding.

Recommended minimum space on here is 4 sq ft in coop, 10 sq ft in run, but as those are minimums if you can exceed that, it can only help.

Very normal with the nest boxes. Even if you had 20 boxes they'd likely pick one or 2 favorites.

What would a rat attack look like? Anyone know?

Lots of nibbling, probably starting with feet and working up. Very unlikely for rats to kill adult chickens, however rat burrows can serve to allow other predators like snakes and weasels in. If you saw no obvious chew marks it wouldn't be a rat.

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?

So these are obviously bigger runs that yours, but there's a lot of examples and suggestions on here to think about: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

I might try to talk my husband into working on separate coop quarters. I think they’ll be fine while free ranging but don’t want them locked up together.

Yeah if you enjoy that chicken I think a separate enclosure for the times you can't free range would be best and safest, especially since you can't free range all day to help alleviate any crowding stress. The coop you have right now would certainly be big enough for her alone.

 

[getaclue]

Generally it's 4sqft per bird in the coop and 10sqft in the run.
that is, in most experienced keepers opinions, a minimum.
Can depend on climate and if run can be weather and predator proofed.


That would 16sqft.
4sqft would be two foot x two foot.


@Mablethechicken
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2107513

You are correct. I was tired, and meant to say 4 sq. ft. in the coop, per bird.

 

[Mablethechicken]

Problem with manufacturer claims is they're often using bare legal minimums (like commercial farm numbers) to calculate space. Not surprisingly chickens in factory farm settings have their beaks cut off to prevent them from killing one another due to stress and crowding.

Recommended minimum space on here is 4 sq ft in coop, 10 sq ft in run, but as those are minimums if you can exceed that, it can only help.

Very normal with the nest boxes. Even if you had 20 boxes they'd likely pick one or 2 favorites.



Lots of nibbling, probably starting with feet and working up. Very unlikely for rats to kill adult chickens, however rat burrows can serve to allow other predators like snakes and weasels in. If you saw no obvious chew marks it wouldn't be a rat.



So these are obviously bigger runs that yours, but there's a lot of examples and suggestions on here to think about: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/



Yeah if you enjoy that chicken I think a separate enclosure for the times you can't free range would be best and safest, especially since you can't free range all day to help alleviate any crowding stress. The coop you have right now would certainly be big enough for her alone.

Thank you so much for taking the time. So much great info. Very grateful and will take heed.

 

[getaclue]

That does not discredit what I said about some sex links being terrible bullies, and yes, they will sometimes kill flock mates.