Chicks killed in brooder

[Rosto]

My niece and I have chick brooders set up in a large shed. I have a large metal livestock water trough. She has a huge dog crate (Great Dane sized) with one huge plastic tub with older Showgirls. She also had 10 Showgirls and Silkies around three weeks old. They were inside a large plastic tub with heat plate sitting beside her others. The lid was locked on. It has a wire cutout lid. Only this tub was not inside her crate. Today around lunchtime some predator killed all 10 babies. The animal left wings, feet, and one hollow backside with legs. All pieces were left sitting in front of the metal crate’s door. No other chicks were touched. Any ideas what it was and how to keep the others safe.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry for your loss.
Was the lid found off?
The tub was inside the the crate?

 

[SilverBirds]

So sorry for your loss. It sounds like the work of a raccoon. I would set a trap to see if you can catch the scoundrel.

 

[Rosto]

Yes whatever it was it removed the lid completely. My niece thinks maybe a house cat. I’m thinking rats. The shed has doors front and back that we usually lock. They aren’t anything special just wood. I didn’t see any damage or anything like tracks. No other sign of the attack.

 

[Rosto]

She’s devastated. They were her sweeties.

 

[Rosto]

Think it’s a huge stray cat. He tried to eat my Serama bantams today. Luckily I was outside! He then went for another pen of Showgirls. Again was able to send him packing.

 

[TOR]

Think it’s a huge stray cat. He tried to eat my Serama bantams today. Luckily I was outside! He then went for another pen of Showgirls. Again was able to send him packing.

Shoot it.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Shoot it.

As horrible as this sounds, I would agree.