Chicks killed in cage

[Sarkchick]

They can be pulled through the floor, or is that a gap at the lower edge of the hardware cloth wall?
So sorry!
Mary

No gaps. The skulls were just raw meat covered. Do not see how anything could pull the thru 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Posted pic of the skulls as I found them

 

[Sarkchick]

No gaps. The skulls were just raw meat covered. Do not see how anything could pull the thru 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Posted pic of the skulls as I found t

They can be pulled through the floor, or is that a gap at the lower edge of the hardware cloth wall?
So sorry!
Mary

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I've read only 1/4" hardware cloth is predator proof. Things can reach through the 1/2". My guess is it pulled them through piece by piece and the heads wouldn't fit. I am so sorry. That is absolutely devastating

 

[Sarkchick]

Picture of this 4x4 cage would help us .
Of there is a gap around the door or access, or if the door flexes with little effort, it could have been a weasel or a rat.
Eating everything but the skull would sound more to me like the leavings of a rat. A weasel would not have eaten it all and made sure to kill everything living in the cage.
I know its solid hardware cloth, but i would have a section with board so they dont have exposure to something that could potentially grasp or peck at them from underneath at night.
I had a young redtail hawk under my hutch one day pecking up at the baby chick feet 2 summers ago through the 1/2 hardware cloth mesh.
Sorry you lost your chicks. Its sad.

There was a 12"x24" board with nest box in there. Feeder and water with rocks in it to keep chicks safe.
I guess a rat could grab them from under neath, just never seen rats here. Only mice

 

[Sarkchick]

I've read only 1/4" hardware cloth is predator proof. Things can reach through the 1/2". My guess is it pulled them through piece by piece and the heads wouldn't fit. I am so sorry. That is absolutely devastating

Thank you. That's a horrible thought but I guess it could happen

 

[50-45-1]

Either something small got in the cage. A vole is a meat eater and about the same size as a mouse.
The 1x2 wire would let small critters into that section.
I found a mess of chick wings breeks and feet and a very upset broody mom one morning many years ago and it turned out to be a ferel cat in my case. I did not have a very secure coop back then.
Consider using a baby monitor Tonight. Your broody had to make quite a racket while this was going on. That and a motion camera may solve this mystery.

 

[Folly's place]

I lost chicks, and had their mama torn up but alive, in the morning years ago. They were in a smaller airline crate, and pulled through the front cage grating by raccoons. Awful! After that, I use a very large airline crate at least, and in the safe coop at night.
Mary

 

[Sarkchick]

Either something small got in the cage. A vole is a meat eater and about the same size as a mouse.
The 1x2 wire would let small critters into that section.
I found a mess of chick wings breeks and feet and a very upset broody mom one morning many years ago and it turned out to be a ferel cat in my case. I did not have a very secure coop back then.
Consider using a baby monitor Tonight. Your broody had to make quite a racket while this was going on. That and a motion camera may solve this mystery.

The underneath part was only fenced to keep chickens from eating wet wasted feed not to keep critters out. The floor is above that.
I do not know about voles. My large chicken coop is solid wood except for a couple windows. It does get mice inside that's why I put chicks in this. My mistake.
I put her and the 3 surviving chicks in another coop. My trail cam was stolen last year by deer hunters on our property without permission. And do not have baby monitor.
thank you for all the ideas and advice. It was just upsetting. And needed to release some anger
This site is awsome

I lost chicks, and had their mama torn up but alive, in the morning years ago. They were in a smaller airline crate, and pulled through the front cage grating by raccoons. Awful! After that, I use a very large airline crate at least, and in the safe coop at night.
Mary

Good idea. Easier to clean also. Thanks

 

[LizzzyJo]

I would have never thought this before but had anyone ever seen evidence of a broody doing this herself?

 

[Folly's place]

Bantam chicks can get through the grate openings in those airline crate doors. I use a couple of rows of duct tape to keep them inside with mama.
Another awful lesson learned!
Mary