Help! Something is eating its way into my coops!

[JodiLynn]

Our coops are integrated into a huge barn and the doors to the barn stay open so the chickens can free range during the day and be tucked in safe at night. For the last 2 days something (during the daytime, just happened between 11 -12 pm) is eating into my nursery coop where I have 14 baby chicks. Yesterday there were 2 holes chewed 1 in both coops and today one in the exact same spot that I patched from yesterday. Is this a squirrel, coon, or rats? Like I said it is not happening at night just during the day. I wokr from home and have been up there every hour but I am not sure what to do. Here is a picture of the hole and as you can see where I Patched it yesterday and then it ate threw it again!


Will electric fence work? But then will it shock the chickens if they touch it? Thanks for any help on this matter!

 

[Marty1876]

Electric fence is defiantly in order here. I don't think it will hurt your chickens, but it might. Instead of patching with chicken wire, use a higher grade wire with closer holes, something sturdy. Put it along the weaker bottom 6-12" of fence.

Rats maybe, or weasel, skunk, digging dog. Any fur on the wires to suggest something slipping though? Any droppings in the area?

 

[zazouse]

It looks like the work of a rat but honestly with that plastic chicken wire anything could get in, i would replace the wire with hardware cloth and put a hot wire around the coop as an extra precaution.

 

[kitten6566]

I would use metal wire not plastic. trust me i have a huge rat problem. they wont leave there are thousands is what it seems like and they come out during the day. i would say it is a rat because of the size of the hole. you have to get rid of them or they will populate and you will have a big problem.

 

[JimyCrakKorn]

The plastic wire won't keep out any animal that chews. I would agree you have a rat problem. Coons would leave a huge hole if they chewed. They prefer to open or pry their way inside. I would patch with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. You should be able to get a 3 ft wide by 25 ft long roll at you local big box store or online for sure. Online will be cheaper but watch for the shipping costs. Use 3/4 in screws that are made to attach wire screens to wood. Lowe's or HD will have exactly what you need. A trap or two in front of the holes you patch might give you a better idea of what's coming in. Use peanut butter as bait.

Good Luck.