So, I got up this morning at 4am and started taking care of animals. I noticed that my chicks in my brooder were dead. Not much I can do right now, I have to go to work. So I took care of the meat chickens, layers, and rabbits. Then my wife went out after daylight and sent me some pictures.
Inside the brooder
Remains
attempted entry
attempted escape
Just looking at what I saw in the dark, The tracks look like a skunk. I trap year round on my farm to keep the nest raiders down. I haven't caught anything in a few days-which is normal. I was surprised that my brooder is in my meat bird coop, and the animal got into there and tried to escape with 40 meat birds but only killed my chicks in my brooder. This coop has the wire buried 1' deep. The skunk was able to push the door open (even though it was latched) and dig down in the 2" gap to gain entry. I don't have a pic, but he dug out of the brooder under the wall to exit the coop. In total, we lost 14 Easter eggers. I told my wife to not bury the birds, I'll use them for bait this evening after I get off work.
Inside the brooder
Remains
attempted entry
attempted escape
Just looking at what I saw in the dark, The tracks look like a skunk. I trap year round on my farm to keep the nest raiders down. I haven't caught anything in a few days-which is normal. I was surprised that my brooder is in my meat bird coop, and the animal got into there and tried to escape with 40 meat birds but only killed my chicks in my brooder. This coop has the wire buried 1' deep. The skunk was able to push the door open (even though it was latched) and dig down in the 2" gap to gain entry. I don't have a pic, but he dug out of the brooder under the wall to exit the coop. In total, we lost 14 Easter eggers. I told my wife to not bury the birds, I'll use them for bait this evening after I get off work.
