Cannibals??

[critters]

My hen house is pretty secure but I’ve lost 4 hens in the last few weeks, during their night time lock up.
The birds were eaten, sides, necks wherever it seemed.
Is it possible I have a or several killer birds? Unsure what’s causing their deaths but is it possible?
Another thought would be orchard rats as we live in a working orchard...?

 

[BuffOrps32]

Doubt is it a bird. Any tracks in the house or can you post a pic of body to look at? Graphic warning would have to be put into title

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I am so sorry for your losses! Bear hugs!

 

[Criticalicious]

This thread should probably be under predators. Look for small openings or holes in your coop. Look under it and at the roof line. Some predators like mink and rats can fit through very small openings and they chew through wood.

 

[critters]

Doubt is it a bird. Any tracks in the house or can you post a pic of body to look at? Graphic warning would have to be put into title

I’ve buried today’s hen. Kinda of of relief not to suspect the other birds.

 

[critters]

I am so sorry for your losses! Bear hugs!

Thank you.

 

[critters]

This thread should probably be under predators. Look for small openings or holes in your coop. Look under it and at the roof line. Some predators like mink and rats can fit through very small openings and they chew through wood.

Guess rats then... small vent opening at the roof top line... dang!

 

[Criticalicious]

Guess rats then... small vent opening at the roof top line... dang!

Try stuffing the gaps with steel wool. You can find it at Walmart in the cleaning supplies aisle.

Chickens can cannibalize each other but they'd have to be kept in a too small coop or one of them would have to be bleeding to make that happen. Usually at night chickens are asleep, so that seems highly unlikely.

 

[critters]

It’s a good size coop with only 8 birds inside... now 7...use to be 12 ...
I’ll get some steel wool and try that.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

When I culled my rooster one time all my chickens were outside— anywhere they could be but right by the rooster. They were amazed and a gut accidentally fell out of the bucket of blood and THEY ATE IT!! They weren’t starving either! Since then, I watched a hen kill a small roo...
MY CHICKENS ARE CANNIBALS
So it is possible but like you said it’s probably rats.
I had to kill my entire flock and hatch them all over again. That was when I was about 10ish.