One of my chickens got eaten...

[Curlygael]

So I need some advice. I don’t know what got her; all I found was a mess of feathers and one small scrap of something chicken innard.

Now, I am afraid to let my poor pullets out into their run, which is not a safe place and I knew that but there has been no trouble until now. I don’t want to keep them in the coop all of the time because I know they need light and fresh air to be healthy. I can’t stay out there with them because of the cold; in the spring I would just do yard work or something but now....nope. Come spring my son will build the run for them but what to do now is the problem. Where do I go from here?

This is the first adult chicken that I have lost. I guess that I am looking for encouragement as much as anything else. I am upset, discouraged and afraid for them.

 

[centrarchid]

Did loss occur during day or at night? If latter, then is it possible predator pulled victim from coop?

 

[Fishkeeper]

Go take a look at your run. You should be able to find what did it and keep whatever it is out. They do need to go outside some, though- can you spend a little while outside, with them, so they're supervised and safe from predators but get to run around being chickens?

 

[centrarchid]

This where I quick response is needed. If raccoon, especially like more than one, then a repeat is likely to night unless holes are patched. Critter could be out there right now.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Assess their pen as soon as you can and their roost. Check for any gaps or holes something could get in- even small holes a weasel can get into. When did you lose the bird- day or night?

 

[Sagenovese]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's a rotten feeling that we've failed them. I've lost a few to predators, too. Did it happen during the day or the night?

I'm sorry to tell you that whatever got your chicken will likely return for more.

I used to free range all of my chickens and it was wonderful for a good 3 or 4 years. Then, I started losing chickens left and right. It was a combination of predators-mostly fox and a neighbor's dog.

The fox grabs and carries away. They take what they will eat. They're hungry. In the spring and early summer when they have a den of kits to feed, they need more so they will tag team, round them up and kill larger numbers that they carry off one by one.

Dogs (pets) will kill for fun, they like the chase but they lose interest once they've killed it (not hungry) and it isn't moving. You'll typically find a whole body that's been ripped open and left for dead.

I've heard that specific types of predators will take just the head (skunk?) not sure how predator-specific that is. I've had plenty of possum, but not aware that any have ever killed my chickens before, they seem to be interested in the eggs and have even stolen ceramic and wooden eggs that I have later found with teeth marks!

We have hawk's, too. I was standing just a few feet away once when a juvenile red tail tried to take one of my hens. It swooped down and I ran at it yelling and it got flustered and flew away. The hen was cut up and bleeding but made a full recovery. Had I not been there, I am certain the hen would not have survived. I don't know if it would feed on the spot or carry the body away, perhaps depends on size. I suppose a larger hawk could carry off a small chicken fairly easily.

I've heard raccoons are very violent, strong and smart about finding ways to get the chickens. I think the same is true about Fishers. I would expect lots of carnage from a raccoon.

My solution was to put up an electric poultry net around my coop. I have not lost any chickens since it went up a few months ago. I recommend an electric fencer rather than a solar one, though. As least here, we don't get enough sun to keep it going.

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/...0JvYf40m1AT1vIIFYmIh-18RqSTLSgdAaAgetEALw_wcB

I hope this helps.