Was wakened at 3 am by a kerfuffle in the chicken pen - we have Ross cobbs we are raising for the table - they are in a large run with 6 ft high chicken wire round and 2 strands of electric fence wire set 30 cms out from that.
Jumped out of bed and went to investigate with the terrier who promptly took off across the neighbouring field, all the birds were huddled along the fence line out of their shelter and there was one patch of feathers on the ground inside the pen with none to be seen outside. Birds looked ok so went back to bed.
5.30am and the same thing happens, shoot up there and there's more feathers by the fence line but no birds seem injured or dead.
Checked them this morning and one bird had been bitten deeply under each wing - deep enough to penetrate through the muscle so had to be put out of her misery.
Never seen injuries like that before - had a fox get in but it bit the heads off and caused absolute carnage - this is one bird with no other injuries apart from those under her wings.
Any ideas what I'm dealing with? Have upped the electric charge to the fence, set rat traps and our fox trap but I'm at a loss as to what it might be.