Bobwhite hen killed and leg missing.......

[greyghost]

  I went to the cage and found a hen dead. Her right leg was chewed off. Her head was bare of feathers. Did I mention her LEG WAS CHEWED OFF? What the f&%K?  No varmints can get into that pen, it is surrounded by 1/2 inch wire. Any ideas? Dave.

[frank_lap_127]

What's you sq.ft./bird ratio?
What's your breeding ratio?

It can be done because of too much protein, not enough fiber, overcrowding, light, the birds by themselves.

Frank

[greyghost]

Frank, it was three roosters and 7 hens, now 6.The pen is 3x5x1.5 tall. My math tells me total is 21 sq. feet for 9 birds. They haven't even laid yet. I'm feeding 16% layer feed. They are watered and fed regularly. I do not get it, I do appreciate your input.

[wildergamebirds]

  Actually, that's 15 square feet, 22.5 cubic feet.

  This is why I've said there is a difference in sq. ft. requirements, depending on number of birds.  In your cage, no one bird can ever be any more than about 7 feet from any other bird.  In a 3X10 pen, even with twice as many birds, they are a little better off, they can get about 12 feet apart.

[makesmiles]

I'd be willing to bet you have a rat problem.  Many years ago I was losing quail by the droves the same way.  Finally found out that rats were climbing to the bottom of the cage at night, grabbing the legs or feet of the quail and pulling them off through the cage wire.  I have even had them try to pull the quail through the egg roll out area in layer cages.  I solved the problem by putting a double wire floor on the cage of my grow off pens and installing a wire "lift gate" (for lack of a better term) over the egg laying area of my laying cages.  Plus I poisoned the @$&*! out of the rats!  Problem solved!

Solution:  Rat proof your cages!

David

[jimmurray3]

I had the same problem had a red fox pulling the legs off my bird in an outside cage with a 1/2x1/2 floor in it. he would kill 5-25 a night until one night Mr. fox meet 12 gauge problem solved.

[greyghost]

Awww rats!  Daddy got himself a new .17 HMR for his b-day. You're goin' DOWN!

[CharlieHorse]

I've seen BW's kill each other, but not mutilate or devour. Especially not remove a leg, like the others have said..........you've most likely got a critter.

[Reeves]

Ghost
You ever get this figured out ?

[ode2god]

overall

[wildergamebirds]

overall

  Sure glad to know that.

[Pheasant Hollow Farm]

overall

  Sure glad to know that.

I can see where this topic is heading to..

Steve
Pheasant Hollow Farm