Something is attacking my Isa Brown hens at night

[Kelpiedog]

Hi,
This is my first post here.
I have lost four of my Isa Brown hens in the last four weeks, I am finding blood in my coop in the morning and when I inspect my hens I find blood usually under the wing.
One hen is targeted at a time over several nights until it is dead, then they move on to the next victim.
I have had a lot of mice lately and have killed forty or so using the plastic bottle on a wire over a bucket of water (check it out on you tube, it works).
I have not seen any sign of rats but I think they may be the culprit.
Has anyone ever heard of mice doing this kind of damage to chickens ?

 

[gertiie]

My first thought was the other chickens attacking each other but then you said over several nights, if it was the chickens I would think they would attack each other during the day too .
I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine what you are going though

How many chickens are left ?

 

[welasharon]

How are they getting in?

 

[Backyard Hencam]

It sounds like rats may be getting into your coop. They have a habit of picking away at the weakest until they can finish them off. If you search this site on rats, it may be helpful to you. Best of luck!

 

[bryan99705]

If you have a rodent issue, look into the barrel with a wire trap. It involves no poison nor does it put your birds at risk.

 

[Kelpiedog]

Thanks for the reply everyone,
I am down to my last hen and a rooster, I now suspect my rooster, last night I moved the pair to my shed and in the morning my hen was bleeding, there was already fresh blood present at 6:30 last night when I moved them.
The rooster is the only one that has never been attacked.
They definately do not fight during the day, they have a large coop with plenty of room.
Perhaps my rooster has decided he would prefer to sleep alone.

 

[JPHorvath]

Quote:
I have searched for this with Google can't seem to find this trap you are referring to. Could you kindly post the link to the video? Think I found something that maybe similar using beer can.

 

[JPHorvath]

Quote:
If it were the Rooster his head would be covered in blood. I think it is a Rat! I have never heard of a Rooster killing off hens. My guess is the rooster has been fending off the assailant.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
I have searched for this with Google can't seem to find this trap you are referring to. Could you kindly post the link to the video? Think I found something that maybe similar using beer can.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17093/17093-h/17093-h.htm#page_131

scroll down to page 127 you can use 55 gallon drums or 5 gallon buckets they work well

 

[Kelpiedog]

Tonight I have seperated the hen, so I will check it in the morning.
As for the mouse trap, you can use a plastic bottle or a can.
I use the bottle because it has a groove in it to place the peanut butter.