Definitely a struggle, there are other scenarios that are non-predator related-see below.
I had a hen that that was killed and partially cannibalized by the other hens in the hen house (my husband claims she was 'shanked' because she was a really crabby girl and always stirring up trouble). Exact same wounds down to the bone at the back of the head. I know it was not a predator, she was found dead in the enclosed hen house and I had heard squabbling first thing in the morning but wasn't able to check on them for about a half an hour cuz I had to get the kiddo off to school.Last night we had a very bad storm. Winds got up to 50mph and it was practically raining sideways. It went on most of the night but stopped early in the morning. I went to take care of the chickens and found one of my cockerels dead.
He was in the way back corner sitting in a pool of blood.
His flesh was torn all the way to the bone
There was also blood splattered all over the walls and ground
I have an enclosed run made out of chain link dog fencing. There were no silkie feathers in the grow out pen, only one in the run. If it was my silkie, wouldn't there be feathers from him in there because he is going through a molt? Could my silkie have done this or do you think it was a mink or weasel?
The most likely scenario for the demise of Cluckles2: the rooster mated with her and when he grabbed the back of the neck the skin was torn by accident. The other hens saw blood and proceeded to chase her and peck at the wound. Forensics showed blood spatters much like yours on the walls of the hen house where she shook her head and sent blood droplets and clots on the walls. When she eventually went into shock from the trauma and laid down, the hens ate their fill from the open wound. Over in a matter of minutes. Poor Cluckles2. I no longer close my chickens in the henhouse at night--they can get away from each other in the run that way.
In your case the initial injury could well have been a raccoon reaching through the fence and grabbing at the head tearing the skin. It could have also been caused by another bird pecking at the youngster to establish pecking order and accidently tearing the skin. It could have been an injury caused during the storm.The Silkie' face is covered in blood because he feasted on the open wound after your boy died.
It is worrisome that it could be a predator--best put up a fine mesh hardware cloth next to the existing chain-link to keep little raccoon hands out the coop. Put up the game cam, too, so you can tell what is lurking about. My gut tells me a bird of prey is unlikely given that your run is covered. Yes they can get in small gaps in the top, but they have to get air born and fly back out and that is very difficult in a small run and the only egress is a small gap in the top netting.
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the electric fence box I found seems pretty straightforward to set up and I think I will do that. I just need to remind myself to turn it off before I go to open the door..
