What killed my rooster?

[pinknblackchaos]

Found him in the coop, feathers everywhere, no insides, beak and comb gone. I have a very secure coop with an automatic door, raised coop, windows are hardware clothed ect. I found no entry points and my hens have no injuries or blood on them. I am so confused. Please help.

 

[coach723]

My first reaction was 'weasel'. They can get through some pretty small spaces. Whatever it was got in somehow, so you need to figure that out, it may very well come back. Look for areas of chewing, digging, bent wire, scratch marks, it likely left some kind of evidence behind. Check for loose wire on all openings. Check the floor under the raised part of the coop. Think like a very determined predator while looking for how it got in. Your rooster may have tried to defend the hens and gave good enough to run it off this time. If you can borrow or set up a game camera that may help identify what it is and how it's getting in, or if the ground around your coop is flat enough spreading flour or cornstarch may pick up some prints you can identify. I suppose it's even possible that it got in before the door closed, so maybe close them up a little earlier and make sure they are the only occupants until you figure it out. And some pictures of your coop and set up might help, someone may see something you've missed, it's easy to do.
I'm very sorry you lost him, I'm always sad to lose a good roo.

 

[pinknblackchaos]

New development. We had used the power plug to do some work on the coop and forgot to plug it back in. But what kind of animal kills that way? Im so grateful to him for saving my hens. Still sad that it happened.

 

[varidgerunner]

Sounds like possum to me.

 

[coach723]

Unfortunately, that's what predators do.
They are hardwired that way by mother nature and to them a chicken is dinner and survival. They are opportunists, which is why we have to be so vigilant about protecting our birds. At least you know how it got in and can prevent it from happening again. Mistakes happen to all of us. It still will likely come back and try again, so watch for signs.

 

[pinknblackchaos]

Thank you. I will be more cautious in the coming nights so that it will not be able to get back in. I dont want to open the coop to see that again.

 

[pinknblackchaos]

Heres pretty boy. He will be missed.

 

[coach723]

He was a handsome guy, and even more important, he saved his girls. He was a very good roo!!