? chicken killer

[chickenlady]

Hi,
I have a Black Star hen that has just started laying and an Aracauna hen about a month younger. Both share about 1/4 acre yard that they free range and forage, also eat food treats (corn included) and laying chicken food (purina). At night they sleep in the same coop.
About 10 days ago I introduced an Australoupe Hen of 10 weeks into the yard; she was separated at night and slept in the garage then release with the others in the morning. She seemed to do her own thing and did not look like she ate very much. At times I would see the Aracauna chase her around the yard or a tree. I did not ever see her peck at the Australoupe. However I did witness the BS try to peck the Australoupe when in more enclosed spaces.
This afternoon I have come home to find the Australoupe dead! She was where all of them usually just hang out under a tree. Her head was still attached but the top of her head and eyes were ( what looked like) pecked away. Could this be the other chicken/s? or a predator?
There was also no prior evidence of them pecking her feathers.
My other problem is that I have some baby chicks that eventually I would like to introduce into the general yard and hen house.

Many thanks

[RichmondHens]

Sorry to hear your news, what a shock for you.

I doubt the other hens killed the Australorp although they may well have pecked her eyes once dead. I suspect she either died (could she have been ill?) or something got in and killed her, although if the latter I would have expected it to take the body.

When introducing the chicks, wait until they are big enough to cope with a bit of bullying, and ready to move onto layers pellet. They should be on grower pellet ideally until at least 16 weeks. You can contain them in a pen where the others can see them and get used to them so that when they are let out together they are all fairly familiar with each other.