Our hen Speckles was attacked by something today. We are in Bedfordshire, UK, and have never had a chicken attacked by anything other than a fox (and not in recent years).
The attack was during daylight hours today and took place inside a small coop which we leave open in the day (most of the chickens roost in a larger shed but one different hen lays and sleeps in that coop so it is left open). I know this as there are a mass of Speckles’ feathers inside. Speckles herself was found hiding in a shed corner maybe 10 metres away from attack site and has one wound that I can see - it is a bare patch in the middle of her back and it has essentially been skinned. Could not see any deep puncture wound. The patch is maybe something like 7cm long by 4 or 5cm across, roughly.
I am currently thinking of a mink or other mustelid but I don’t know how they attack? Other options would be fox (seems highly unlikely), cat, dog or rat. We do have cats but they are fine with the chickens and have never bothered them, plus I don’t think they would attack a medium-sized hen who was indoors. The neighbours do have two smallish dogs but they are contained and again the wound doesn’t seem like a dog bite. I can’t think that a rat would manage to wound a hen like that?
Any thoughts appreciated. Speckles is secure for tonight but I am now worried for the other chickens!
ETA: we are approximately 500 metres from the river and I believe mink don’t travel too far from fresh water, but we do also have a large pond/small lake on the property.
The attack was during daylight hours today and took place inside a small coop which we leave open in the day (most of the chickens roost in a larger shed but one different hen lays and sleeps in that coop so it is left open). I know this as there are a mass of Speckles’ feathers inside. Speckles herself was found hiding in a shed corner maybe 10 metres away from attack site and has one wound that I can see - it is a bare patch in the middle of her back and it has essentially been skinned. Could not see any deep puncture wound. The patch is maybe something like 7cm long by 4 or 5cm across, roughly.
I am currently thinking of a mink or other mustelid but I don’t know how they attack? Other options would be fox (seems highly unlikely), cat, dog or rat. We do have cats but they are fine with the chickens and have never bothered them, plus I don’t think they would attack a medium-sized hen who was indoors. The neighbours do have two smallish dogs but they are contained and again the wound doesn’t seem like a dog bite. I can’t think that a rat would manage to wound a hen like that?
Any thoughts appreciated. Speckles is secure for tonight but I am now worried for the other chickens!
ETA: we are approximately 500 metres from the river and I believe mink don’t travel too far from fresh water, but we do also have a large pond/small lake on the property.
Last edited:
