Chickens ate chick.

[minichicks05]

I KNOW WHAT KILLED THE CHICK!!!!
It was not a chicken it was a SKUNK.
Today I walk into the coop thinking it was my black and white wether goat almost picked it up but then realize it not a goat.
So I get all the chickens out of the coop and it start to do this hissing noise almost!
Luckily I got it out of the coop yelling SATAN BE GONE it a broom.
I feel bad I don't know how it got in because this was a different time and everything was closed.
Could that would have been what ate the chick possibly? My daughter said she was sure she closed it but doesn't remember.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It certainly could have killed it, I'm glad you didn't pick it up, skunks can carry rabies so be careful. I would have my husband out there with his gun. I respect wildlife but draw the line when they come for free dinner from me.

If your chick pen didn't look like it was broken into, than the door was left open which let it escape, and the skunk possibly ate the head off when it found it outside. It does make more sense than a chicken doing it. I have seen them kill chicks but not remove the head. One year I had a crow snatching chicks, that crow still returns every spring looking around.

 

[nchls school]

I KNOW WHAT KILLED THE CHICK!!!!
It was not a chicken it was a SKUNK.
Today I walk into the coop thinking it was my black and white wether goat almost picked it up but then realize it not a goat.
So I get all the chickens out of the coop and it start to do this hissing noise almost!
Luckily I got it out of the coop yelling SATAN BE GONE it a broom.
I feel bad I don't know how it got in because this was a different time and everything was closed. Look for a small hole. A skunk can get through a hole so small you'd not think it possible.
Could that would have been what ate the chick possibly? My daughter said she was sure she closed it but doesn't remember.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, skunks are mostly hair. There is not much body under there so they can get through very small holes. They can climb fences but not very well. It’s unlikely it climbed over a fence, more likely squeezed through a small hole underneath or got through a crack. Gates can be weak points. Nchls School is exactly right. Look for a small hole.

That skunk makes more sense than a chicken. A chicken can cut a mouse, frog, or something else up with its beak into small enough pieces to eat, but often they peck at it to break the bones so they can swallow it. It’s really unlikely that they would take off the head and leave the body. There are several predators that favor the head though. Hawks, owls, raccoons, and skunks are on that list.

 

[Bantambird]

My coops and runs have wire and gravel underground and the wire is coved out. Skunks like to dig too, as well as squeeze through tight spaces and chinks. If it got away, it will come back for the easy meal, you can bait live traps with tuna or wet cat food. Make sure you cover the trap before moving it or you will get skunked.

 

[minichicks05]

We did find a hole now it seems that it wants
More chickens/eggs...NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!
We patched it up with chicken wire and brick so I can't push through the wire. Then the next day we found a huge hole and covered that up. So hopefully third times a charm.

 

[Angie8eggs]

We did find a hole now it seems that it wants
More chickens/eggs...NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!
We patched it up with chicken wire and brick so I can't push through the wire. Then the next day we found a huge hole and covered that up. So hopefully third times a charm.

Ugh..what a pain!! Hope the third time works for you! Keep us posted

 

[Bantambird]

In my experience, any animal in the muskelid family, including skunks, weasels, mink, raccoons, badgers, and ferrets, once they find a place that has food, you won't discourage them easily. For me, they are just behind neighborhood dogs for preying on the chickens. If you can trap them and remove them, or shoot them, then that one won't be back. We have had raccoons wipe out half a flock and eat just the heads, leaving bodies scattered across the yard. Plus there is the rabies thing to think about.

 

[Angie8eggs]

In my experience, any animal in the muskelid family, including skunks, weasels, mink, raccoons, badgers, and ferrets, once they find a place that has food, you won't discourage them easily. For me, they are just behind neighborhood dogs for preying on the chickens. If you can trap them and remove them, or shoot them, then that one won't be back. We have had raccoons wipe out half a flock and eat just the heads, leaving bodies scattered across the yard. Plus there is the rabies thing to think about.

100% agree.

 

[minichicks05]

It came back again why won't this stupid animal leave us ALONE!! So now we are putting out a trap for this animal. Anyone know food to lure it in?! Should we shoot the animal after or realease it some where else? What happens if it's a fox I would kind of feel bad to shoot him/her? Any suggestions?