MapleReach
In the Brooder
We have a coop with an 11ft like big enclosure I snide of a larger fenced area for our chickens. When we are away for any length of time we lock the chickens into the inner enclosure. We returned home yesterday to find the outside door at the end of the enclosure kicked in - both hinges broken - and all three chickens were out running around in our yard. Their water was tipped over and empty. They still had some food left.
It appears that something rammed or know caked in the door, as the hardware cloth was pushed in (not broken). We can't figure out what did it. It would require a great deal of force to bread that door down and we're not sure if a coyote or raccoon could have done it. That, and the fact that the chickens had been wandering around outside unbothered makes us think it wasn't a traditional predator.
We're wondering if one of the fearless local deer might have tried to kick in the door to get to the feed - has that happened to any of you? We found some fibrous material stuck in the wire - seemed too brittle to be fur. Maybe from a hoof?
Anyway, it's a mystery. There are a lot of chickens in our area and we're not aware of any recent coyote attacks. What might it have been?
It appears that something rammed or know caked in the door, as the hardware cloth was pushed in (not broken). We can't figure out what did it. It would require a great deal of force to bread that door down and we're not sure if a coyote or raccoon could have done it. That, and the fact that the chickens had been wandering around outside unbothered makes us think it wasn't a traditional predator.
We're wondering if one of the fearless local deer might have tried to kick in the door to get to the feed - has that happened to any of you? We found some fibrous material stuck in the wire - seemed too brittle to be fur. Maybe from a hoof?
Anyway, it's a mystery. There are a lot of chickens in our area and we're not aware of any recent coyote attacks. What might it have been?