could a rat do this

[clek1430]

I am new to chickens and had a few young chicks. I put them out in the coop during the day but at night I had them in my shed in a big bird cage with 1/2 inch bar spacing. The other morning when I went in to get them my favorite little polish frizzle had both wings ripped off and my little silkie was missing a foot. I know something reached in and tried to pull them through. Everyone of my chicks have some kind of damage but those two I put to sleep. Is a rat strong enough to do that kind of damage? I have checked and checked and have no idea how anything bigger then that could of got in my shed.
Thanks

[IMG]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/35050_picture_396.jpg

 

[MidnightChickenLover]

Definetely strong enough. They can rip feathers out of running chickens! But I would also try to protect them from larger predators too. Animals have different minds.. We still don't know how our chicken can get out of our electic fence, but they slip right under it when they are let loose from the run to free range.

 

[clek1430]

I have them in the basement at night now so I don't have to worry. I also put a game camera out there that takes pictures if you walk in front of it so far nothing has been back in the shed

 

[kuntrygirl]

Oh no !!!!!!!!!! Poor baby. I'm so sorry. I have no idea what could have got to them and injured them in that way.

 

[Snap62]

more than likely a rat, or even a mouse, according to how old the chicks are.

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[fuzzerd]

I would keep them in the basement untill they look more like chickens then fluff balls, since the rat ( or what ever it was ) would probably come back for a second attack.

 

[Catfishingpokey]

We were having things ripped off our young quail and at first we didn't think anything of much size could be getting in the bird barn. It also killed 6 young chickens, but never bothered the full grown ones. It turned out to be a skunk....my husband trapped it and shot it. Thank God because my husband blamed our young cat, and she almost met her demise before we figured out it was a skunk.

Kim

 

[Mandy1296]

Any way something bigger can get in there? Were the body parts completely gone? Did it look like the parts were eaten there or taken off? My nighbor has had his chickens and guinea's disappearing for few days now, trapped an oppossum last night. It was just a bit bigger than a wolf rat (spelling?) YUK!!! Anyway, pulled them through the wire and ate bones, beaks feet and all. Only part of 1 foot and some feathers left from 2 guineas. Looked like all consumption was done on scene. and through all of this not a sound, not even enough to wake the dog through open windows, about 20 feet from coop. This is how he finally trapped the bugger. Got one of the live traps, get a can of tuna. Punch holes in the can of tuna (like you do for a firefly jar), put it in the trap and set it. They can't reach in and get the bait like they can if the can of tuna is open (which is what happened the last 2 nights he tried)

Good luck!!

 

[clek1430]

Thanks for all the reply s
Mandy I could not find anyway that something bigger could have got in but I can't be 100% sure. The parts were gone no trace of them I moved everything and cleaned up the shed no trace of anything but a few feathers around the cage. Thanks for the tuna idea I do have some traps I will try it.
Courtney