Odd Death

[FaythoftheLost]

I have a variety of different chickens. Living in the mountains I have had my fair share of problems ranging from my neighbors dogs killing my chickens to raccoons and foxes. Since then I have built a very secure pen layered with chicken mesh and two more extremely strong layers of fencing that is wrapped all the way around the structure. Yes below and above ground and in different directions so nothing can get I under an edge. So these days the only issues I have is the occasional weasel and the raccoon attack when my girls are out free ranging.

I have some chickens that are eight months and older that I let free range which leaves my two to five month olds inside to enjoy the pen. What was bizarre is I found my four month old auericana dead under the coop. No damage to the body. No bight marks anywhere. The head and neck was soaked but the neck wasn't broken. Everyone else was fine. Any thoughts?

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Does your neighbor have any little dogs? It sounds like the predator didn't attack the bird normally, but grabbed it by the head and shook it, then hid it under the coop. I would suspect a terrier type of dog that used your chicken as a toy to play with.

 

[Jackschicks]

My guess would be a snake. I lost a 15 week old pullet to a 4 ft corn snake. Came out one morning to let the chickens out and she was dead on the floor of the coop. Her head and neck were all wet but she had no injuries or wounds. I was at a loss as to what could have killed her but the next night when I went out with my flashlight to close up the coop this 4 ft snake practically fell on my head (it was up in the rafters above the roosts). I dropped my flashlight and had to find a bid stick. By the time I finished freaking out the snake was gone. After doing some research online I determined that the snake had tried to eat her. She was too big for him to swallow but he suffocated her trying. Have you been missing any eggs?

 

[HeritageGoose13]

My guess would be a snake. I lost a 15 week old pullet to a 4 ft corn snake. Came out one morning to let the chickens out and she was dead on the floor of the coop. Her head and neck were all wet but she had no injuries or wounds. I was at a loss as to what could have killed her but the next night when I went out with my flashlight to close up the coop this 4 ft snake practically fell on my head (it was up in the rafters above the roosts). I dropped my flashlight and had to find a bid stick. By the time I finished freaking out the snake was gone. After doing some research online I determined that the snake had tried to eat her. She was too big for him to swallow but he suffocated her trying. Have you been missing any eggs?

Oh yes, this makes sense! I always forget about snakes.