Chicken Death

[Pumphrey]

I posted about my Polish being found dead with puncture wounds to her head and a few feathers pulled out behind her. I assumed a raven that had been hanging out attacked her through chicken wire over chain link while she was roosting. i happened to mention this to a lady who does chicken rescue and she said the chicken could have died and then the remaining chickens pecked at her corpse making it look like a predator attack. She hadn't been acting sick at all but she hadn't laid for several days. She was never a big layer so I didn't pay a lot of attention to it at the time. She was a year old. I am wondering how likely it is that she died of natural causes and then the chickens made it look like a predator attack? I ask because I am putting all my chickens inside the coop at night and I would like to let them roost again.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think that a raccoon may have reached through the chicken wire and made puncture wounds. I would go to a big box store or online and buy a large roll of 1/2 hardware cloth wire. It comes in 50 ft rolls of 2, 3, or 4 ft wide. That is predator proof. Anything larger, a raccoon can reach inside, or a weasel or rat can enter. I have lost chickens and the others have not pecked at the body. Sorry for your loss.
https://www.google.com/search?clien...kFHbcADcEQtKgLegQIDhAB&biw=1151&bih=747&dpr=2

 

[Pumphrey]

Thanks you. Yes, I plan on getting some hardware cloth. I appreciate the link. She was my favorite. Isn't that always the way?

 

[Pumphrey]

Do you attach with zip ties?

 

[paradisepentacoop]

So sorry to hear!
Hardware cloth is easier to work with and protects better in my experience. Hopefully it will treat you and your flock right.

 

[paradisepentacoop]

Do you attach with zip ties?

I attached hardware cloth with staples on structure of my run. When I did an apron, I zip tied the top edge to the bottom of the vertical areas, making sure to overlap a little and add one every 8-10 squares. I can take a picture if you'd like

 

[Pumphrey]

I attached hardware cloth with staples on structure of my run. When I did an apron, I zip tied the top edge to the bottom of the vertical areas, making sure to overlap a little and add one every 8-10 squares. I can take a picture if you'd like

Thanks! That would be great. I have chain link so nothing to staple to.

 

[Eggcessive]

Heavy zip ties would be fine, but check them yearly for any breakage.

 

[paradisepentacoop]

Here is how I zipped the apron on mine. The black ties are very hard to see from further away, with one area still having the full length of tie