Natural causes or a predator? Warning: graphic photo!

[Alexandra33]

Thank you all for your consolation and input! Puzzle wasn't the pet type, but it still bothers me this happened to her. She was so young.

The manner in which our hens "ate" her doesn't line up?

If it makes any difference, here are a couple details I neglected to include:

1. The flock didn't seem at all disturbed when we returned home. Usually, in the wake of a hawk attack, they stay hidden for several hours out of pure shock.

2. There wasn't anything that would've scared an opportunistic raptor away from its meal. We don't own dogs, and the 10 roosters are significantly wimpier than any hen around here. Not to mention the fact everybody in the family was away when it took place. May I add that the Northern Harrier which attempts to prey on our flock on a near daily basis, so far only successful with chicks, is quite difficult even for humans to spook. Red-Tailed have been a problem in the past, too, but more seldom than the Harrier.

~Alex

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I will venture that a possum killed your hen because that is the classic way that possums consume their chicken dinners. They go in through the thin part of the abdominal cavity and then eviscerate the body.

 

[Yuki]

I came home to a gruesome sight two days ago....one of my tiny OEGB ladies, dead, being devoured by select few hens. All during broad daylight. My initial thought was that a hawk (predator that frequents this area most) had eliminated her, and our girls saw the leftovers as an easy meal. However, looking back on previous hawk attacks, not only was the victim eaten almost entirely (or carried off when said raptor spooked), but traumatized flock members didn't dare approach the remains. I also got to pondering; Puzzle never acted "normal." She was hatched with the tendency to suffer conniptions at random over absolutely nothing, specifically screaming/bolting full speed/flying as though her life depended on it. Feel free to challenge me on this, as I'm far from sure....but it almost seems logical that Puzzle died young from extreme stress, and then served as my Leghorns' dinner. Any thoughts? Attached photo shows damage.
View attachment 1591730
~Alex[/QU
She was attacked by a hawk with her random running it could be genes if her family line was ever attacked by hawks it could produce that behavior in sorry for your loss I hope you're hens are safe my first generation was wiped out by a red tailed hawk

 

[Alexandra33]

I will venture that a possum killed your hen because that is the classic way that possums consume their chicken dinners. They go in through the thin part of the abdominal cavity and then eviscerate the body.

Fascinating observation. We do have possums living in our barns, left there intentionally to keep raccoons and skunks from taking their place. And I also read that they tend to come out in daytime more during cold months. Only thing that confuses me is that Puzzle was easily the fastest, most abnormally spastic/alert bird in our flock to the point of ridiculousness....how on earth would it have caught her? She was directly outside of the barn, so I suppose a possum could've ambushed?


That's a possibility,@Yuki, Red-Tailed have killed two of our birds so far. Thank you.

~Alex

 

[Abriana]

so sorry. I’ve had hens eat a pullet before, I think a hawk started and then my rooster scared him off. The hens finished her off. It was terrible.

 

[Alexandra33]

so sorry. I’ve had hens eat a pullet before, I think a hawk started and then my rooster scared him off. The hens finished her off. It was terrible.

You are very sweet, thank you for the kindness. The fact chickens won't hesitate to devour each other when the opportunity arises is gruesome. But then again, what else can you expect out of such carnivorous creatures? So sorry about your precious hen.

~Alex

 

[Abriana]

You are very sweet, thank you for the kindness. The fact chickens won't hesitate to devour each other when the opportunity arises is gruesome. But then again, what else can you expect out of such carnivorous creatures? So sorry about your precious hen.

~Alex

They seem like such sweet creatures, but they really are quite vicious.

 

[Yuki]

Ironically my hen was attacked this Sunday by a possum and is currently in rehab.

Fascinating observation. We do have possums living in our barns, left there intentionally to keep raccoons and skunks from taking their place. And I also read that they tend to come out in daytime more during cold months. Only thing that confuses me is that Puzzle was easily the fastest, most abnormally spastic/alert bird in our flock to the point of ridiculousness....how on earth would it have caught her? She was directly outside of the barn, so I suppose a possum could've ambushed?



That's a possibility,@Yuki, Red-Tailed have killed two of our birds so far. Thank you.

~Alex

 

[kissezmychicken]

oh wow, that's awful..so sorry for her/you.

hawks are my enemy here in Eastern Washington..devils.

Ironically my hen was attacked this Sunday by a possum and is currently in rehab.

 

[Yuki]

Yeah we are bad with hawks in New York to along with cyototes and black bears she is tweeting happily as always no matter what I just hope her hens are safe tho

oh wow, that's awful..so sorry for her/you.

hawks are my enemy here in Eastern Washington..devils.