Do/can turtles eat chicks?

[asher]

We had six chicks as of around 9:30 this morning. Just now, my son came in all excited b/c there was a turtle in the run. And now we have 3 chicks. What the heck?! It as not a big turtle. There are no bodies anywhere. Gone without a trace.

So weird. That and the fact that I cannot figure out how the heck it got in to the run! I have hardware cloth run flat and put in the ground with garden stakes all around the perimeter of the run and along the bottom 3' of the run.

Weird, man. I took a pic of the turtle, if anyone might be able to tell me what kind it was by the pic (I assumed boxing or snapping), I'll post it.

Now to figure out this weekend where the security breech is. If a turtle can get in, other things can, too!

 

[birdsofthefarm]

Normally, no. Can I see the pic and I will tell you if it will hurt your little babies

 

[asher]

Here it is - pics aren't very good.

 

[jerseygirl1]

No!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a box turtle, no way that would eat your chicks!! Snapping turtle, maybe, but not a box turtle
If this is a North American Box turtle, it is also on the endangered species list

 

[asher]

Okay, thank you Hmmm...wonder where my chicks went!

We picked this little bugger up with a shovel and laid him in a grassy area towards the woods.

S/he had a lot of cracks and breaks along the edges of his/her shell.

 

[Fourgirlsoneboy]

Is the top of your run covered? It could have been dropped by a bird of prey. That might explain where your chicks are also. Other than that, I don't have a clue! Sorry though....

 

[asher]

Yes, our runs are completely covered. The shell could definitely not have fit down the holes of that and a bird of prey couldn't fit in it, either. Hrrrmmm...will have to add beefing up security to the run this weekend and figure out how the heck it got in. We do have a lot of straw that the chickens have been kicking around. I wonder if the chicks just died and got kicked under that? There are 7 broody hens and they are pretty darn nasty to the other hens chicks.

 

[ChickenCat]

that's a box turtle and yes, as previously stated, endangered. It would not eat anything in the way of chicks, chickens, it's too slow to catch them. How it got into your run??? Fascinating question.

 

[asher]

I know. That's going to bother me. As I told DH, if it can get in, surely a raccoon or opposum can! BTW, when we fund the turtle, he was at the very edge of the run, like he was trying to get out, but he couldn't.

If I had anyone nearby that didn't like me, I'd assume they'd put it in there. I seriously cannot figure out how else it could have gotten in other than someone placing it in there. Will see tomorrow.

 

[PortageGirl]

Agree it wasn't that turtle. Yes snappers will eat chicks, though, more likely ducklings! If your chicks were to wander close enough to a snapping turtle, their necks are HUGE long and they can move pretty fast... so if a chick came within reach, yeah. But NOT that turtle.

Yes, could have even been blue jays or crows if the pen isn't covered. Or, are the mum and chicks the only ones in there? Other hens could have done it, or, even the mother, they sort of freak out sometimes and do that, sad but true, esp if it's her first clutch.

//edit, saw your posts after I did this one... so disreguard the parts you already answered... I'd say other hens if there's other broodies in there!