Rats+Chicks=Mourning... - Page 2

I had rats kill a brood of Serama chicks last week. To say I was mad and sad, is an understatement. I even had them in a hanging cage, 4 feet above the floor. With the momma hen. But the rat pulled their little bodies through the bottom of the cage (1/2 in by 1/2in wire). I hate rats. I have more traps set up than I have animals.....and every once in a while, I do get a rat but they seem to get more of mine. :(

I am so sorry for your loss. that really bites. :(

I am so sorry for your loss. I'd really hate to come across a scene like that myself, I'd be sick too. As someone else mentioned, if you get chicks again, I'd have a coop set up in the house or garage. We've kept chicks in the house, the most was ten at one time, until they were at least a month old...maybe even older. At the very least keep them in the house/garage at night, and have a secure run (no chicken wire, but hardware cloth) during the day. Rats are awful vermin indeed.

So sorry you have lost your babies, I love my girls so much and would be devastated if anything happened to them.  

We used "hardware cloth" for our coop.  It has about 1/4 in openings that are too small even for mice.  It is also really strong so animals like racoons can't pull the openings open and reach in. It is pretty expensive compared to chicken wire, but we felt it was worth it.  I have learned to never under estimate wild animals.  In January, a coyote jumped our 5 foot fence and got one of my chickens!  It is so sad.  Keep reading posts on here...this is where I have learned much of what I know.

So sorry for your loss.I would feel EXACTLY the same. SO GUILTY but you shouldnt b/c  You had no idea.

I have big dogs  in my back yard and i am making my run about like Fort Knox but still who knows.Mine are 6 weeks old like little hens but still  its A mean old world out there for chickens.

 

Also didnt know that rats would get chickens .

Are you sure it wasnt a weasel?

I READ THE OTHER DAY THeY EAT THE chickens  HEAD  leave the body WHY you can  tell if its weasels or coons.

I  think they are about the size of rats too

Either way I think I would put them inside next time until they were older. First few weeks they are no bother inside in a cage or tub with a screen.

Well hindsight is 20 20 . VEry Hard lesson for you  though.AGain sorry. 

So sorry for your loss.I would feel EXACTLY the same. SO GUILTY but you shouldnt b/c  You had no idea.

I have big dogs  in my back yard and i am making my run about like Fort Knox but still who knows.Mine are 6 weeks old like little hens but still  its A mean old world out there for chickens.

 

Also didnt know that rats would get chickens .

Are you sure it wasnt a weasel?

I READ THE OTHER DAY THeY EAT THE chickens  HEAD  leave the body WHY you can  tell if its weasels or coons.

I  think they are about the size of rats too

Either way I think I would put them inside next time until they were older. First few weeks they are no bother inside in a cage or tub with a screen.

Well hindsight is 20 20 . VEry Hard lesson for you  though.AGain sorry. 

I'm so sorry to hear that you have had a rat problem. I lost all my chickens to a fox last year, and cried my eyes out all morning. We know we have a family of foxes in nearby fields, so we are very careful. We didn't expect a fox attack mid morning. It was probably a ravenous female nursing hercubs, as it would have been very risky for her. However careful we are, these things happen, unfortunately. Chickens have been easy prey since the dawn of chicken time. I can imagine the awful sinking feeling you experienced when you realised Hatvhad happened.