What killed my pullet?

[lauranickerson]

I'm leaning towards weasel. I just put up 1in. hexagon fence around the chicken run, about 8ft high. I haven't got the roof on it yet, but that was on my list of things to do this week. I have 4 ducks and 18 chicks (17 now) that are about 2mo old. There is about a 1/5in gap under the door that I walk into their run from. I came back JUST before the light in the sky was fully gone, and noticed a dead pullet. I didn't fully inspect it for wounds, but it didn't really appear to be bloody. It was flattened out, though, even though it could have only been dead a few hours. The back on the skull and around the eyes seemed clean of feathers, and even got into the flesh a little, but I'm not sure what the predator did vs. what the other chickens did to it after it was dead.


What is the best way to keep out a weasel. I have no trouble killing it if I can actually get a hold of it/shot at it somehow. I'm just VERY nervous now about the rest of my flock because I heard one little weasel can wipe out a flock at one time, or come back every night until they're all dead. I didn't let them out of the coop today because I had to go to work and wouldn't have been able to babysit them.

Wah. This stinks!!

 

[lauranickerson]

I meant to say 1.5in gap under the door, btw.

 

[candid505]

I had 10 pullets about same age built the coop and run hadn't got the roof on and left few hours came back poof gone all ten no trace no feathers only thing was small dog size hole under fence. Have no idea what got them all

 

[lauranickerson]

Aww. That stinks. I'm sorry.

Yeah their coop is done for the most part, but they were out in their run and I came home to put them in, and there was a dead one out there. I inspected the next morning for holes - nothing. The only thing I can think of is either a weasel that can fit through the cracks or a hawk that flew in and crushed it, then left. The others seemed pretty freaked out, and even though it was almost dark, they weren't all in the coop like they usually were by that time. I think they were waiting for their friend to get back up.

Guess I'll just have to weasel proof a little better, and get the run's roof on asap.

 

[settingdusk]

What we used to keep critters that burrow like rabbits out of areas was to simply take a length of wire and lay it on the ground attached to the wire wall and bury it. The animals try to dig next to the wall not however far out your buryed fence goes. I used extra 3' foot wide chicken wire under 6 inches of dirt. I find holes that lead down to the fence but nothing makes it through. You don't have to bury the fence very deep you can just lay rocks on the edge. You just don't want something figuring out they can go under it like a sheet.

 

[lauranickerson]

What we used to keep critters that burrow like rabbits out of areas was to simply take a length of wire and lay it on the ground attached to the wire wall and bury it. The animals try to dig next to the wall not however far out your buryed fence goes. I used extra 3' foot wide chicken wire under 6 inches of dirt. I find holes that lead down to the fence but nothing makes it through. You don't have to bury the fence very deep you can just lay rocks on the edge. You just don't want something figuring out they can go under it like a sheet.

That's a really good idea! I might do that if I have some extra! Thanks!

 

[irahappychic]

When i had chickens before, and will have to do it again now that I got more, I built what was like a fortress. You have racoons, rats, snakes, hawks, foxes, cats, dogs, weasels... they will all harm chickens...

I had a three layer situation:
First, they had their house I locked them into at night. It was completely, absolutely impenetrable. I open the door at sunrise and close it at sunset. You can get automatic door openers and closers.
Second, I had an area the size of a large dog kennel that was small hole chicken wire top and sides, not a hole anywhere. I attacked chicken wire to the base and ran it out from the enclosure about a foot. From the base, the wire sloped down and the lower end was buried. This kept predators from digging under or climbing over. The gate must not have more than 1/2 inch of open space, and I also buried wire under the gate area to prevent digging or burrowing.
Third, I had a run area with a six foot fence. I like to put the compost into this area and let the chickens out there during the day to eat it. But compost attracts rats and vermin...so you have to monitor that.
The chicken food was stored in a metal garbage can inside the full enclosure. When I closed the chicken house door at night, I put the food container into the metal can with the supply and got it out and filled it each morning when I opened the chicken house door.
They were happy chickens until my boyfriend decided they were dirty and sold them fortress and all...he is gone...and I have more chickens.

 

[199787]

From your description it sounds like it might have simply just died.

 

[lauranickerson]

When i had chickens before, and will have to do it again now that I got more, I built what was like a fortress. You have racoons, rats, snakes, hawks, foxes, cats, dogs, weasels... they will all harm chickens...

I had a three layer situation:
First, they had their house I locked them into at night. It was completely, absolutely impenetrable. I open the door at sunrise and close it at sunset. You can get automatic door openers and closers.
Second, I had an area the size of a large dog kennel that was small hole chicken wire top and sides, not a hole anywhere. I attacked chicken wire to the base and ran it out from the enclosure about a foot. From the base, the wire sloped down and the lower end was buried. This kept predators from digging under or climbing over. The gate must not have more than 1/2 inch of open space, and I also buried wire under the gate area to prevent digging or burrowing.
Third, I had a run area with a six foot fence. I like to put the compost into this area and let the chickens out there during the day to eat it. But compost attracts rats and vermin...so you have to monitor that.
The chicken food was stored in a metal garbage can inside the full enclosure. When I closed the chicken house door at night, I put the food container into the metal can with the supply and got it out and filled it each morning when I opened the chicken house door.
They were happy chickens until my boyfriend decided they were dirty and sold them fortress and all...he is gone...and I have more chickens.

That does sound like a fortress! I plan to let mine free range while I'm outside. I'll just have to work on training them to come back in when I want!

From your description it sounds like it might have simply just died.

That's possible, too. Just threw me off-guard. But all the others seem fine so if it was sick, I hope it wasn't contagious!

 

[irahappychic]

My chickens would free range when I was out with them, and their yard was large (well as large as it can be living in a tiny lot in town).
What the fortress was for was to keep things out at night. Most people don't realize how capable racoons and rats and things are at getting into the chickens. Any time from evening to after sun up is hunting time and the chickens need to be secure.