2 dead in coop, seemingly no injury or entry.

[Rachael<3Chickies]

Hi,

I'm not sure how to locate if something similar to this has happened so sorry it is has but my friend is losing chickens and we don't understand how. One went missing a few days ago. Literally missing. Not even a feather. This morning two hens were found dead in locked up coop, still warm, without visible injury or holes or digging to coop. Two live hens and one small rooster found alive in coop. Not seemingly upset. ? We have no clue.

They have been tryin to roost outside the coop lately. Not sure if related or not, just throwing it out there. No blood seen. No feathers everywhere.

 

[Dayrel]

I'd separate the disappearance from the two deaths. How did the first one get away?

If a predator got into the coop/run and killed the second two, then the others would likely be in shock. More likely, they were killed by some type of illness, parasite, toxin, etc. Roosting outside of the coop could mean that they don't want to be in there with some type of insect (mite?) infestation.

 

[Hensndoes]

Did they check out the necks real well? Looking for two little puncture holes from the fangs of a weasel. Weasels only need a tiny hole to get in. And will come back until the food source is gone.

 

[Folly's place]

Mites or lice are also a possibility here. Pale combs and weakness, then death from anemia. Look closely at all the birds, living and dead.
So sorry!
Mary

 

[Rachael<3Chickies]

My friend most likely did not look extra hard for the weasel marks, though I did tell her too.

They are free range locked up at night is how the one went missing during the morning.

Her chickens are very healthy. I took one when I needed a hen and didn't have to demite her. They are shiny and have nice rosey combs.

I was thinking weasel too. However, she went to get more and put them together and they seemed to get along but the next day (today), one is missing (the smallest) and another (the next smallest) has been "scalped" and brought in for recovery.

These aren't my chickens and am very thankful that mine are doing well but I wish I could help with her flock. She has 6 hens one rooster.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

 

[Folly's place]

It's really very sad that she got more birds before knowing what happened to the first; now more are lost and injured. not a good story.
Mary

 

[cottontail farm]

The ones that were hurt today - was the missing one outside again and the scalped one inside?
Does anyone have a game camera you could borrow for a night?

 

[Rachael<3Chickies]

They were outside but the injured one had went back to the coop.

We do not currently own a camera, but it is happening likely out in a field during the day.

No not a good story I agree. Very upsetting.

 

[Rachael<3Chickies]

She is starting to suspect and seperate the rooster bc she saw it one top of a hen pecking the back of its head, reportedly not mating. I'm just hoping that's not it bc that's the rooster I gave her as a baby boy and that would be it for him. ...

 

[cottontail farm]

It seems lile the ones with no visible injuries would have been a mess if it were a rooster that killed them. Not trying to be gross but i know someone whose rooster took the back of a hen's head down to the skull. I thought she should be put down but she healed up like nothing happened. It's really hard to find something to explain the injuries outside of the coop AND the two dead birds inside.