mullethunter Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Background - my mum has a fairly new wooden chicken house with an onduline (I think) corrugated roof so small spaces under each corrugation. She shuts her girls in at night. The house is within an electric fence. We know there are rats in the run and she has seen one in the house before. The run has several holes with freshly excavated earth around them. She has had stoat attack in the past too - she lives in the countryside. She had 4 rescue hens and one hybrid black rock Mrs Black. This morning she opened the house to find three of the rescue girls dead, the last rescue alive but has the appearance of being brain dead and having a broken neck (still breathing and has strength but eyes closed, head floppy and no coordination), Mrs Black seems reasonably alert and can sort of stand and stagger about but falls over easily through poor balance. The only external injuries are abrasions either side of the back of their necks, but no puncture wounds. Our top guess is a rat, but all were attacked in what, to me, seems like a very specific way for a rat, and the lack of teeth marks seems very odd. Also odd that we know there have been rats around all along, why kill them all all of a sudden? What do people think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Can't help with ID, I'm afraid, but wanted to say how sorry I was to read this; devastating for you and mum. Hope you get some answers from others wiser than I! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natspringy Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 Goodness, I'm so sorry to read this. How upsetting. I hope you guys get some answers. Hugs both x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 That’s terrible. I’d go for a stoat if she’s seen them around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 4, 2018 Author Share Posted November 4, 2018 The two remaining girls showed no change for the better so we dispatched them today Only positive is that she’s just had an email from the BHWT to say there’s a rehoming in her area 2 weeks today so at least she’ll be able to give a home to some working girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 So sorry to hear this - hugs to you and you mum 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 So sorry to read this. Sending hugs to you and your Mum xx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 That's a sad tale Mullethunter. Obviously the culprit needs to be caught or the coop secured before getting any more hens as it will be back. I'd guess at a weasel or stoat. Is it possible to cut 1cm square weld mesh and fix it to block all the gaps under the onduline? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 5 hours ago, Beantree said: Is it possible to cut 1cm square weld mesh and fix it to block all the gaps under the onduline? That’s the plan Beantree. Either that or roll up small bits of chicken wire and wedge them into all the gaps. Bloody wildlife! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 Sorry to hear that, please send my thoughts on to your mum. It is rare for a rat to kill a full sized chicken, but it could be a ferret, mink or stoat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share Posted November 5, 2018 I think it was probably a stoat. Too clinical for a rat too I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 5, 2018 Share Posted November 5, 2018 Rats have been known to chew at the legs of birds before, but I have never heard if them attacking the head or neck of a bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 6, 2018 Share Posted November 6, 2018 Oh that is sad news, really sorry to hear that, but soon there'll be happy exbats with a nice new home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
