Chicken Nature or Homicidal Hen?

[junebuggena]

Updates: went and bought layer feed rather than scratch. Also set two live traps: one inside of the barn, and one at the most likely point of entry to the barn. The last 4 chicks we have left are stationed in the laundry room for the night. Let's see if we get anything.

Layer is for actively laying birds only. Not safe for young birds, males, or birds in molt or brooding.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Updates: went and bought layer feed rather than scratch. Also set two live traps: one inside of the barn, and one at the most likely point of entry to the barn. The last 4 chicks we have left are stationed in the laundry room for the night. Let's see if we get anything.

If you build it, they will come.

Unless one spends many nights out on their property at night with night vision glasses, they have no idea what is afoot.
They are nocturnal and survive by being invisible to our eyes.

 

[donrae]

Sorry you're dealing with this. So frustrating.


I've had issues with rats recently. I had a Faverolles hen who didn't like to roost up with the others. She slept on the edge of a nest box. Came in one morning and she was headless. Nothing eaten, just the head.

. Lost a 2ish month old chick the same way, sleeping with the broody momma. Finally, lost a 3 month old chick from the grow out pen. The last one had some innards and meat eaten, the others were head only.

I put our poison, that seemed to do the trick. Well, that and a combo of The Locusts (my teenage boys) with pellet guns setting out around dusk. they shot several, and we found several that ate the poison. I've been clear for a few weeks now.

Hopefully your traps work.

 

[Clov3r]

Layer is for actively laying birds only. Not safe for young birds, males, or birds in molt or brooding.

Right... I have the chicks on starter feed. I only have the one rooster. The rest are all laying hens...

Unless someone has a recommendation for a good whole-flock supplement to free ranging them?

 

[junebuggena]

Right... I have the chicks on starter feed. I only have the one rooster. The rest are all laying hens...

Unless someone has a recommendation for a good whole-flock supplement to free ranging them?

Starter is safe for everybody. It's a lot simpler to buy one feed that is safe for all and set out some crushed oyster shell for the layers.

 

[Clov3r]

Something tripped a trap, but we didn't catch it. Trap reset.

Noticed that the hay where the chicks would normally be looks like a tiny hog came through and rooted through it. Followed a path in the hay to a small opening in where one wall meets another. Leads to the hay storage area. Went in there, followed path to behind hay bale. Found a musky smell and what looks unmistakably like fresh weasel poop. Whelp. Looks like you guys pegged the culprit. Not even my parents in all their years ever dealt with weasels, so none of us had any idea about the calling card kill style of those guys, but I've read up on it through the day and it all adds up.

Thanks for everyone's input. If we do manage to catch the little demon, I'll update again.

 

[aart]

Something tripped a trap, but we didn't catch it. Trap reset.

Noticed that the hay where the chicks would normally be looks like a tiny hog came through and rooted through it. Followed a path in the hay to a small opening in where one wall meets another. Leads to the hay storage area. Went in there, followed path to behind hay bale. Found a musky smell and what looks unmistakably like fresh weasel poop. Whelp. Looks like you guys pegged the culprit. Not even my parents in all their years ever dealt with weasels, so none of us had any idea about the calling card kill style of those guys, but I've read up on it through the day and it all adds up.

Thanks for everyone's input. If we do manage to catch the little demon, I'll update again.

Good sleuthing....'tiny hog' cracked me up.
Google weasel traps.

I use Purina Flock Raiser 20% protein formulation.

I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

 

[Weehopper]

Scratch, as a sole feed, even though they free range, and have kitchen scraps, is not enough protein for your birds. You need a regular chicken food. I use Flock Raiser, to avoid the hassle of trying to use separate feeds for various ages. It is 20% protein. I always keep a cup of oyster shell available for whoever wants it. A commercial feed will have the proper balance of vitamins, minerals, and protein they need. Also, I am on 21/2 acres also. I use scratch feed as a very small treat food, or I toss it in a pen when I want to catch one of the girls.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Something tripped a trap, but we didn't catch it. Trap reset.

Noticed that the hay where the chicks would normally be looks like a tiny hog came through and rooted through it. Followed a path in the hay to a small opening in where one wall meets another. Leads to the hay storage area. Went in there, followed path to behind hay bale. Found a musky smell and what looks unmistakably like fresh weasel poop. Whelp. Looks like you guys pegged the culprit. Not even my parents in all their years ever dealt with weasels, so none of us had any idea about the calling card kill style of those guys, but I've read up on it through the day and it all adds up.

Thanks for everyone's input. If we do manage to catch the little demon, I'll update again.

I have never caught a mink or weasel in a conventional live trap. For one, they prefer live bait and for two, they're able to escape from the havahart type trap I have.

I suggest using a pvc pipe trap with about 2" PVC. Build a weasel box trap with a #110 conibear body trap
http://www.flemingtraps.com/body-grip-traps.html

 

[ChickenCanoe]

http://www.trapperman.com/trapperman/The_Weasel_Box_Set.html

http://ecofarmingdaily.com/snap-build-a-weasel-trap-to-protect-your-poultry/

http://nytrappers.proboards.com/thread/20168/pvc-weasel-set

Rat traps work as do longspring traps but because weasels are so light and so fast, a longspring can't be any larger than a size #0.
The body traps are the way to go. No one recommends a live trap for weasels.

You can also bury a 3' section of 1 1/2" or 2" at an angle with some bait like a mouse in the bottom. The weasel, which isn't smart, will go in but can't turn around to climb back out.