What would scalp my chick?

[AthenasOwl]

We don't have coons. It was a clean tear, also like something just peeled her poor skin... like an orange peel. Could it have been my rooster? Or is that too viscious? There was no other bodily harm. I also am not sure how the chickens would accidentally open that hutch door...


Thank you for your support.

First off, I am very sorry you lost 2 birds!

It doesn't sound like a rooster, to me. Chickens will go nuts over blood, but I have never seen them go for another chicken's head (unless they don't know the chickens at all, and they view the chicks like invaders). At 6 weeks, the chicks are integrated and part of the flock. I would have to see the rooster in action and how he reacts to the other chickens to be 100% certain..but to me, it sounds as if a coon or some other animal got them.

Colette

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[Welshies]

First off, I am very sorry you lost 2 birds!

It doesn't sound like a rooster, to me. Chickens will go nuts over blood, but I have never seen them go for another chicken's head (unless they don't know the chickens at all, and they view the chicks like invaders). At 6 weeks, the chicks are integrated and part of the flock. I would have to see the rooster in action and how he reacts to the other chickens to be 100% certain..but to me, it sounds as if a coon or some other animal got them.

Colette

I make Chicken Saddle styles: Regular, Flared, and Detachable! More expensive, but with heavy denim/Duck canvas, and they are more durable than most!

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We don't have coons here. None.
Which is why I am confused. The rooster chases the chicks around, but nothing really mean.

 

[1cock2hens]

i'm not sure where in alberta you are but it says online that raccoons are indeed found in alberta.. I just saw an article from december saying the range of the raccoon has greatly increased the last couple years and they used to pretty much only be in the southeast portion of alberta but now are found commonly in central alberta and sometimes farther north..

 

[happyhens1972]

I live in the UK and had 42 Japanese Quail. I saw the scalp injury you described several times but this was caused by rats trying to pull their heads through the wire mesh at ground level. We had to put kick boards in so the rats and the quail could not go face to face!

I have also see Red Legged Partridge (rescued as chicks as mum was killed in the road) turn on their sibling and completely scalp him. He lived and fully recovered but he was down to the skull, right across the top of his head, almost to eye level! When I found him, he was getting on with things as though nothing had happened, caked in his own blood! I spoke to a vet about it and he said as long as the bird was eating and drinking, just put antiseptic powder on it and see what happens...I did and he was fine. Anyway, my point is, could this be your other quail???

 

[Kathryn173]

If the pullet was just scalped it was probably your other hens or rooster...just because they were fine before doesn't mean they won't turn on each other, especially if the pullet was a lot smaller than the others

 

[cottontail farm]

I've seen quail and a hen scalped by roosters before but I don't think this is what happened here. First, if it was scapled towards the beak something was standing in FRONT of the bird. A roo would be standing on the hens back and pull toward the tail. Second it would look pecky or ragged not clean like you described.
Also the pullet and the quail were attacked at the same time. i just don't see a rooster messing with the quail.
In the case where my female quail was injured a male quail did it breeding not a male chicken.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

your in Alberta? what part? for you guys wondering what we have in Canada these are some of them.

cougar, bobcat, lynx, weasel (all 3, short, long and least) marten, fisher, mink, badger, wolverine, red fox, coyote, wolf, black bear, grizzly bear, raccoon, wild hogs.