Fuck.

I found a dead Cochin pullet in the run just now.  It looked like it had been pecked to death.

What do I do now?  It wasn’t one of the other pullets that killed it.  It was one of the adult chickens.  Was it one of the roosters?  Was it one of the hens?  If it was only one of the chickens this wouldn’t have happened.  It would have taken at least two to corner the pullet and kill it.

Should I eliminate the roosters and take my chance that the hens will kill another pullet?  Or should I eliminate them all?

My experience with raccoons tells me that it’s better to take no chances.  Can I afford to lose another pullet?

From a purely objective perspective,  the 5 chickens should go into the stew pot.  It would solve a bushel of problems.  But for better or worse, I’m not going to kill them.

I’m going to exile them from the coop.  They have fallen from grace, and been kicked out of the garden.  I’ll continue to put food and water out for them, but I’m no longer concerned with their safety.