What predator left this behind?

[jopheso]

So we discovered some evidence of, lets call it a non-chicken, in the coop where our broody hen has her 2 baby chicks. I was hoping to get some opinions from this knowledgeable crowd on our CSI evidence. There is debate in the house DW says opossum and DH says squirrel. What do yall think?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I think hubby might be incorrect.

I think squirrel turds (I can't believe I just said that! ) are probably smaller and more like small tootsie rolls than the big ones.

No, seriously... I'm sorry for your loss.

Hope your fix works.

 

[cavemanrich]

Opossum.

 

[jopheso]

What an awesome/gross chart!

I think it is OBVIOUS now that it was most likely a Moose

 

[21hens-incharge]

Lots of squirrels here. Their poo is like large rat poo.


I think opossum is more likely.

Very glad the birds are OK.

 

[jopheso]

Opossum.

Lots of squirrels here. Their poo is like large rat poo.


I think opossum is more likely.

Very glad the birds are OK.

WOOHOO! I mean objectively speaking thank you for your votes. I always thought an opossum would have gone after the chicken/chicks if it was in there with them.

 

[cavemanrich]

It was a small opossum by the opening under fence.

 

[jopheso]

just to update. It appears it was indeed a small opossum. The culprit was found in the same yard with the coop the next morning just before it was full light. He wont be returning.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What an awesome/gross chart!

I think it is OBVIOUS now that it was most likely a Moose

You should have seen the first chart I tried to post! It was so bad, that since I couldn't figure out how make it go into a tab, I deleted it.

I was thinking it was probably moose too!

Glad you caught it. I didn't dispatch the first opossum I though my dogs killed when we moved here, but quickly realized it was playing dead! Back then I thought of them as garden friend, since they really are. Very clearly not chicken friend though.

By he WON'T be returning... I figure you did the RIGHT thing and dispatched?!

Not relocated as some folks do... convincing themselves they are doing the "humane" thing, because they aren't familiar with the reality of being dumped in a location where the food, water, and shelter sources are unknown and it may well be another animal territory. Just another death sentence carried out by the SAME person but in a different manner.

Were you able to tell male or female? Any babies in its pouch?

 

[jopheso]

Im pretty sure it was a young male. Even if it was a female it was most likely too young to have pups of its own. DH did dispatch. He doesnt like doing it, but chickens come first. It was instant(well as fast a speeding bullet as they say)