Help IDing a Predator

[Pyxis]

I had a predator show up last night and kill my bantam cochin hen and her chicks. There is no sign of the chicks, but the predator ate just the head of the hen and opened her chest and ate the innards, and left everything else. I believe that whatever it is was also responsible for the disappearance of a few young pullets a couple days ago. I also had something enter the coop, steal every single egg, even the ones under broodies, but not bother the hens. The nest boxes are not easy to access either - they are buckets raised up off the floor and the only way the birds can get in is by directly flying into them. There's no ramp or other way up. Whatever it is has not bothered the full size birds as of yet. Now, I did set a trap for it and I baited it with chicken, so I'm actively working on getting rid of it. I'm just wondering if anyone has any clue what it could be.

 

[iwiw60]

It was either a fox or raccoon. So sorry for your losses. With that said, how is your coop and run built?? Pics would be great so we can better help you analyze your problems with your setup.

 

[Pyxis]

Well, the run and coop were open to allow the birds to free range when all these attacks happened so whatever it was just walked right in. However, if you want pictures, my coop is on the front page carousel right now or you can click the "My Coop" link under my post count.

 

[iwiw60]

Well, the run and coop were open to allow the birds to free range when all these attacks happened so whatever it was just walked right in. However, if you want pictures, my coop is on the front page carousel right now or you can click the "My Coop" link under my post count.

This pic?

I'm sure others will put their 2 cents in as well, but my own opinion is you need to re-think your build. Cattle panels won't deter weasels and small raccoons and they'll tear through those tarps like butter. I can't tell if your panels go down into the dirt as "digger protection" or not, but if not, you should do something along the lines of this:

Just FYI...best of luck...

 

[Pyxis]

So far nothing has broken into the coop. There is a skirt to keep out diggers and there is fencing on top of the cattle panels. Whatever stole the eggs walked right in through the pop door, it didn't break into the coop. The attack on the hen occurred in the run, when the run was open.

 

[gander007]

Sounds like you need to lock up your chickens till you catch to vermin that are getting in your coop and some small traps placed around the outside of the coop will produce some good results and I found bacon fresh cooked works really good so good in fact I have just sat on my porch and shot the critters in the act of taking the little chunks of soft bacon and yes I let the smell settle into the night air and refresh it by putting the pan back on the fire every hour for a couple of minutes .......

I even get them to go into cage traps with bacon with little to no camouflage on the trap but the best is a live rooster with a small light to keep him awake and his cage sits behind the catch cage and fire wood is stacked around it for his safety ...... Oh believe me you will have a hard time catching the rooster after the first time you get a Bob-Cat in the cage ......

 

[aart]

The pop door was open all night.....or did this happen during the day?

 

[iwiw60]

The pop door was open all night.....or did this happen during the day?

Yes, now that I re-read his posts I think he had left the pop door open at night (?????)

 

[Pyxis]

Happened during the day or very early evening before I closed them up for the night. I'm a girl by the way

 

[aart]

Happened during the day or very early evening before I closed them up for the night. I'm a girl by the way

Could have been anything....fox, raccoon, coyote, dog.......