What is killing my hens? Second hen with hole in its side.

[McGoo]

Process of elimination. Remove the nasty hen - put her elsewhere or truly eliminate. If there are no additional problems - then problem solved.

If not, then there's the predator issue. It does seem strange that only one chicken was attacked and killed... and left there. I'm told that weasels bite off the heads of the chickens, so probably not a weasel. Rats might be a possibility.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

It could be that the mean hen is peckin gon the others until death takes place and then maybe rats are coming in and getting the insides. Not sure. I hope I never have to face that.

We done the cement trench around the perimeter over fencing.

 

[ivan3]

You might consider setting a couple of Big Victor Rat snap traps in the coop. Place traps under an overturned cardoard box with 3"x3" holes cut out on each side at the bottom (not so big a chook can get in) weigh down the box with some boards/brick. See if anything goes for them (use raw liver uncooked bacon as bait). No takers would probably rule out rats.

 

[mullers3acers]

We thought it was the other chickens as well but it ended being the raccoon.

 

[tazzy]

On the two with the insides eaten out, there were no pecks on the body anywhere. So I can't see a chicken just pecking and pecking in ONE spot until she digs a hole. she pecks on their rear ends for weeks until she finally hits a vein and then they bleed out. that's how the other two died.

My husband thinks it's a weasel. he says he's seen tons around our land and our neighbor's farm. The only reason we're skeptical is because they would have only killed one at a time. why wouldn't they have killed more? and the heads weren't touched.

 

[horsejody]

I'm guessing weasel.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

How big are the 'holes' on the dead birds?

I would look in sandy spots for paw-prints. They would help ID what's getting your birds.

Also, if you have a video camera try setting it up so you can see the majority of the pen. Begin recording right before you go to bed and see if you get a recording of any activity outside/inside your coop. It doesn't have to be a security camera, just a camcorder fully charged with the maximum amount of recording time available, set right before bed. Make sure the camera stays dry and secure, you wouldn't want it to fall and break or get wet. Video recording is an invaluable source of identification.

-Kim

 

[LynneP]

I was thinking weasel too. Is it possible to put 1/2"mason wire (hardware cloth) on the floor and cover it with earth- and I can't tell what wire you have on the open area of the coop- might be needed there too. I'm so sorry about this, and I know you'll solve it. . We have a lot of neighbours with roosters because their hens were killed by predators. I think that all of us have to face the fact that we can go a while without a kill, but that by having chickens we change the ecosystem and pests that were neutral turn nasty because of easy food.