I'm trying to be dispassionate and say just the facts: I just found my third dead chicken in the last couple of months. We thought the first was attacked by a hawk because we found her in the open area in our chicken run. She had been partially mauled and the head was gone. The second one was in the hen house underneath her perch. (Overnight). The third was tonight in our covered hoop coop attached to the run. (I use the hoop coop as a brooder when I have new chicks.) She was partially mauled but her head was attached.
We have 7 ft fence around their run with the good stuff for fencing, not chicken wire, and it extends out side under the dirt. There are no holes or openings.
Any thoughts? Are they just dying or does it sound like we have a predator? Could they be dying and the other chickens eating them?
Thank you!
We have 7 ft fence around their run with the good stuff for fencing, not chicken wire, and it extends out side under the dirt. There are no holes or openings.
Any thoughts? Are they just dying or does it sound like we have a predator? Could they be dying and the other chickens eating them?
Thank you!
