Pendlewitch Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Running about the livery yard are (were) 9 chickens hatched about last September, it's just becoming a bit obvious which are cocks or hens. On Thursday one of the hen birds was found dead in the tack room with a neck wound, then today another was found dying on one of the big bales. There are another 8 adult birds plus George the resident cockerel, all adults are fine so far. The young birds are starting to crow and battles are breaking out but if it's George defending his territory why would the baby hens get killed? Or could it be some illness breaking out, I need a chicky expert for opinions please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoebejo Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Are you sure it's not a weasel or similar attacking them? I have a large flock, young boys included, and never have I had any fight to the death. Boys might squabble amongst themselves but they wouldn't kill pullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pendlewitch Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Ooo, never thought about a weasel! Would a rat attack them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owl Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 I have had rats attack chicks and also a sitting hen. Stoat more likely than weasel to attack a pullet, I would have thought, but you never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoebejo Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Yep my money is on some kind of animal doing it to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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