What did this?

[jamm]

Hi, I am new to the site and looking for some help.

We have been raising chickens for a few years now and have seen some predators come and go. Had a terrible time with a bobcat but have not seen him in almost a year. We have gone quite a while with no problems and have a small flock of 8 hens and one guinea. So, this morning I went out and found one of my girls with these wounds. Any ideas?

 

[swamperkk]

i have a good idea,a rat,i have a hot wire at the bottom on my chicken house,the hot wire kill mice rats snakes and some birds,also a few squirrels,,they get shocked and bite the wire,no more trouble,cats stay away also

 

[jamm]

So we had pretty much decided that our Schnauzer had squeezed through the gate and gotten this hen, until tonight. It was getting late and the girls had gone to bed but it was still light. I was outside and heard the guinea having a fit. When I looked one of my girls was on the ground. When I went out I found that she had a wound on her head like the first one (who died) just not as bad. Schnauzer was in the house. So, now I have two separate attacks, but no quick kills. Am thinking possum, skunk or raccoon. We have seen possum and skunk in the past but never a raccoon. It is so frustrating!

 

[swamperkk]

RAT!!!! set traps out all around your coop,i would be suprise if its a racoon,racoon dont do this,they are more after the corn or any grain,ive had them go into my coop just to eat corn and eggs,not a meat eater

 

[enola]

To me it looks like damage another chicken did by picking her.

 

[jamm]

I suppose it could be a rat. We have not seen any and have two barn cats in there. We were starting to wonder if it was the guinea. Any thoughts on that? We have one male guinea and we just put some new chicks in a coop in the yard with the big girls. Is he possibly becoming possessive of them?

 

[swamperkk]

do u have a camera,catch them in the act to see what really going on,like a trailmaster camera,then u know for sure

 

[jamm]

Well, turns out it was the guinea. So no more guinea. Strange we had that bird for two years with no problems.

 

[swamperkk]

never thought a guinea would do that,well guinea gumbo is the best