Love my chickens, until tonight

[Familyfarm898]

Hi. My name is Catherine. We currently have 19 hens (mixed varuety) 1 rooster and 3 guinea fowl. I’m planning on getting Black Copper Marans, more cream leghorns and Swedish icebars in a few months because I apparently have a chicken addiction. They’re all from the same breeder, between 5 and 8 weeks old, separated in 3 large pens by age and size until they’re old enough for our mobile coop. I go out to the barn once a day to clean out their food and water and talk to them. I was a little late in getting out there today and when I got out there, I found one of my Orpington pullets dead, with blood marks in the pen. I’m so sad. I’m hoping this doesn’t happen again but I have no idea who the aggressor is.

 

[Cyprus]

sounds like a predator got in.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Where are you from? It can help narrow down the predators. Right off I'd say domestic cat, but so many to choose from...

 

[Familyfarm898]

They’re in a newly built secure, locked pole barn. I was thinking the chickens did it. We have 10 pullets per 5 foot round crate until we transfer them to the coop.

 

[Familyfarm898]

We’re in Michigan. There could be cats, foxes, coyotes but, I don’t think they’re getting in there.

 

[CarpCharacin]

Welcome to BYC!
Sorry for your loss

 

[Leahs Coop]

Hello, and a warm welcome to Backyard Chickens! It's great to have you here with us and I'm sorry to hear about your loss!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy Catherine and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
Sorry to hear of your loss.

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC and congrats on your new hobby. A pic of the dead bird, in-situ would be helpful, but getting the chicks into the coop ASAP would be likely the best option and by that age, they all should be perfectly fine outdoors.

More generally, are some links to useful resources:

• List of guides on how to use the site - “How to...” guides
• Great go-to resource - Learning Centre
• Good starting point for browsing the site - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue
• Excellent sources of local information - U.S. States

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Sorry to hear you lost your orp. It sounds like they may be a bit crowded.