Was it the heat, or something else??

[wildcat chix]

Went out to feed and water the birds this morning and found my male guinea with his head stuck in the fence wire...
We don't know if he got his own head stuck, or if something pulled him through. He was still alive and we don't know how long he was like that.

Brought him in the house and he died about half an hour later. No wounds or obvious trauma other than possible neck injuries. One eye was closed and he seemed to be unable to move that side of his body well.

Went back out to check the rest and came up one Naked Neck short. A short search found him in back of the pen with his legs stuck trough the wire the way the guinea's head was. Again, no sign of trauma other than a very dead chicken.

We have never had a problem with any predator, but around 1 this morning our dogs and the neighbors' were going crazy for about 5 minutes. I guess anything is possible. May have to set the trap tonight and see what happens...

 

[sourland]

Set the traps and lock the coop. Sounds as if you were visited by a predator. Coons in particular are known for pulling prey through chicken wire; however, they generally chew, mutilate and eat the prey. Perhaps they were disturbed before being able to complete the job. Good luck at resolving this. "It" will return.

 

[rebirdchild]

Most likely a ratcoon...if you have normal chicken-wire instead of hardware cloth they can reach in and grab chickens. If this happens again I would definitely consider putting hardware cloth on your coop. Good idea to set a trap...you will probably catch the culprit!