What killed my chickens?
Two were killed, heads left on, 1 was partially eaten. I checked them at noon, they were all fine, went to close hatch in coop at 9pm and found them. Feathers all over inside of 6 x 9 coop! Other 10 hens are ok. We got snow since 4pm so no tracks visible. Pen is 10 x 16 x 5 ft chain link. No cover in winter. Weasel? Aren't opposums/coons hibernating now?
Nothing can get in the 5ft high pen other than a "climber". The suspect would have to climb the chain link to enter the coop thru the 10 in x 15 in hatch. I doubt a raptor would enter a coop (Walk?) through a hatch. I have lost 10 hens to coyotes, fox & redtails since July. (Observed paw prints or witnessed crime!)
Busy schedule, school, dr appt, 4H mtg, didn't allow us to lock up before 9pm 
weasels/minks tend to blood, so it would look like they just died on their own unless you looked real close for the bite mark. i would say cat or possum. raccoon would not stop at one or two. i know i had a raccoon go on a killing spree in my chicken yard while i went to town, i trapped him when he came back for seconds, thats how i knew what did it if it were bird of prey it would most likely have been carried off, but not always. i think because other chickens were present if it were a bird of prey it would have taken one and left, or even if it didnt leave it would obviously only have started eating an been scared away by something, which still leaves the second bird.
my guess would be cat, rat or possum. i happen to know that rats can get as big as a half grown house cat and are quite viscious enough to kill a kitten...a chicken would be easy prey..
Ejucation Vol 43 - Track 30 Nytz Ft. Young Nate - Break The Chain (DUBSTEP MIX)
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