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Help! Something is eating its way into my coops!

post #1 of 5
8/1/12 at 9:15am
Thread Starter 

Our coops are integrated into a huge barn and the doors to the barn stay open so the chickens can free range during the day and be tucked in safe at night. For the last 2 days something (during the daytime, just happened between 11 -12 pm) is eating into my nursery coop where I have 14 baby chicks. Yesterday there were 2 holes chewed 1 in both coops and today one in the exact same spot that I patched from yesterday. Is this a squirrel, coon, or rats? Like I said it is not happening at night just during the day. I wokr from home and have been up there every hour but I am not sure what to do. Here is a picture of the hole and as you can see where I Patched it yesterday and then it ate threw it again!

700

 

Will electric fence work? But then will it shock the chickens if they touch it? Thanks for any help on this matter!

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post #2 of 5
8/2/12 at 6:07am

Electric fence is defiantly in order here.  I don't think it will hurt your chickens, but it might.  Instead of patching with chicken wire, use a higher grade wire with closer holes, something sturdy.  Put it along the weaker bottom 6-12" of fence. 

 

 Rats maybe, or weasel, skunk, digging dog.  Any fur on the wires to suggest something slipping though?  Any droppings in the area?


Edited by Marty1876 - 8/2/12 at 6:49am

 

Why don't sheep shrink in the rain?

 

 

Why is there brail at drive up ATMs??

 

 

Why are their floatation devices instead of parachutes in my airplain seat???

 

 

If a tree falls in the woods and my husband doesn't hear it, am I still wrong????

 

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Why don't sheep shrink in the rain?

 

 

Why is there brail at drive up ATMs??

 

 

Why are their floatation devices instead of parachutes in my airplain seat???

 

 

If a tree falls in the woods and my husband doesn't hear it, am I still wrong????

 

Reply
post #3 of 5
8/2/12 at 6:24am

It looks like the work of a rat but honestly with that plastic chicken wire anything could get in, i would replace the wire with hardware cloth and put a hot wire around the coop as an extra precaution.

“You can’t really begin to appreciate life until it has knocked you down a few times. You can’t really begin to appreciate love until your heart has been broken. And you can’t really begin to appreciate happiness until you’ve known sadness. Once you’ve walked through the valley, the view from the mountaintop is breathtaking"

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“You can’t really begin to appreciate life until it has knocked you down a few times. You can’t really begin to appreciate love until your heart has been broken. And you can’t really begin to appreciate happiness until you’ve known sadness. Once you’ve walked through the valley, the view from the mountaintop is breathtaking"

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post #4 of 5
8/2/12 at 8:29am

I would use metal wire not plastic. trust me i have a huge rat problem. they wont leave there are thousands is what it seems like and they come out during the day. i would say it is a rat because of the size of the hole. you have to get rid of them or they will populate and you will have a big problem.

I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 goats, 2 barred rock females, too many to count roo br, 5 golden sebrights, 4 silkies, 1 silkie pekin mix, i think, 4 welsummers, 4 red stars, 1 rhode island red, 1 tetra tint, 4 partridge rock, and 3 unknown.

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I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 goats, 2 barred rock females, too many to count roo br, 5 golden sebrights, 4 silkies, 1 silkie pekin mix, i think, 4 welsummers, 4 red stars, 1 rhode island red, 1 tetra tint, 4 partridge rock, and 3 unknown.

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post #5 of 5
8/2/12 at 9:56am

The plastic wire won't keep out any animal that chews. I would agree you have a rat problem. Coons would leave a huge hole if they chewed. They prefer to open or pry their way inside. I would patch with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. You should be able to get a 3 ft wide by 25 ft long roll at you local big box store or online for sure. Online will be cheaper but watch for the shipping costs. Use 3/4 in screws that are made to attach wire screens to wood. Lowe's or HD will have exactly what you need. A trap or two in front of the holes you patch might give you a better idea of what's coming in. Use peanut butter as bait.

 

Good Luck.

My wife and I can sit for 2 hours or more inside the pen feeding, petting and watching the girls . Don't tell the family, though. I never knew watching our ladies grow and learn would be the best stress relief ever! 

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My wife and I can sit for 2 hours or more inside the pen feeding, petting and watching the girls . Don't tell the family, though. I never knew watching our ladies grow and learn would be the best stress relief ever! 

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Predators and Pests › Help! Something is eating its way into my coops!