Help! Mysterious predator

[benjamin123]

i spent ages building a new run for my quails. It has wire all around even on the bottom but this morning I went and found 3 gone one dead and holes in the wire. I don't know what the predator is and if anyone could help me identify it I can take action. Thanks

 

[HeavensHens88]

Weasels, they dig like crazy. I'm sorry to hear about your poor quail!

 

[HeavensHens88]

They take the majority of the flock in one night!

 

[HeavensHens88]

Are there bit marks around the crop and neck of the carcass?

 

[HeavensHens88]

Set a large rat trap with chicken liver entrails and put cement blocks around the bottom of the pen and over the holes. They can't resist liver, the little devils.

 

[junebuggena]

Raccoons can tear right through chicken wire. I know it costs more, but if you're not locking your birds up inside a secure coop every night, you need to use hardware cloth.

 

[HeavensHens88]

Look for holes, even if they're only an inch wide.

 

[HeavensHens88]

Weasels can fit through anything larger than an inch space.

 

[benjamin123]

I live in England so it isn't raccoons. And I originally thought rats because I have had rat problems in the past and poisoned them away. I can't see the carcass as its long gone. Weasels, it didn't cross my mind. Will they attack chickens as I have chicken too

 

[junebuggena]

Foxes can get through chicken wire, too.