Murderous Chickens??

[Nero70002]

To me it sounds like a raccoon. At least the head one.

 

[Chickenfeeder22]

Most likely they are connected. A fox, or a hawk would remember there are tasty lil chickens and would come back, or watch your chickens. I have two foxes that even though i haven't seen them in 4 weeks, as soon as we let them free range it comes and takes 3.

Hawk or Fox to me

If a chicken dies in with the other chickens, the flock members can eat the dead one. But i think this is a predator, or maybe some disease. Do you have any idea of what disease it could be???

Very true about a predator remembering where there would be a free meal laying around. I don't think it's a disease, they all look and are acting pretty healthy. I think we'll try predator-proofing the place and hope that that's all it is! Thank you everyone for the help!

 

[lifein1840]

Okay so I don't know what is going on but in the span of a week my mom and I have found 2 dead hens. The first was a young Houdan, pretty new to the flock so I'm guessing they were already picking on her and things got out of hand. My mom found her practically mauled. Just this morning when I went into the chicken run I found another dead hen! This one was a older Maran. She has been part of the flock for a while and I'm pretty sure was one of the more dominant hens so it's a bit of a surprise. She wasn't really mauled but her head was cut off and almost all eaten away. Sorry to be so graphic but I'm trying to figure out what is going on! They also haven't been laying as much. We have somewhere between 35-38 hens and are only getting about 4 eggs a day on a good day. Thoughts on what is happening or how to stop what seems to be a killing spree?

sounds like a possum got your hens

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The first one may have been pecked to death because it looks different than the otgers. But a older, dominant hen dying graphically like that screams predator

 

[Lkase]

Okay so I don't know what is going on but in the span of a week my mom and I have found 2 dead hens. The first was a young Houdan, pretty new to the flock so I'm guessing they were already picking on her and things got out of hand. My mom found her practically mauled. Just this morning when I went into the chicken run I found another dead hen! This one was a older Maran. She has been part of the flock for a while and I'm pretty sure was one of the more dominant hens so it's a bit of a surprise. She wasn't really mauled but her head was cut off and almost all eaten away. Sorry to be so graphic but I'm trying to figure out what is going on! They also haven't been laying as much. We have somewhere between 35-38 hens and are only getting about 4 eggs a day on a good day. Thoughts on what is happening or how to stop what seems to be a killing spree?

Where are you located? It could be a mink.

 

[Mamatomany123]

A preda could also explain the lack of eggs. Any stress on chickens can cause them to stop laying.

 

[PepsiCatt]

its not chicken cannibalism... but to prevent chickens killing each other, make sure they have something to do or theyll get bored

 

[PepsiCatt]

i fell like we re solving a crime

 

[Nero70002]

A preda could also explain the lack of eggs. Any stress on chickens can cause them to stop laying.

A preadator could also be taking them/some.