Horrible and no sign of entry or exit

[Chickie Baby]

Something got 7 of my 13 chickens last night. My rooster was torn open and insides eaten. The others had heads either taken off or crushed. 2 are completely missing. I have no idea what could have done this or if it was more than one. I'm completely heartbroken and my 6 remaining look terrified.

I live in central MS and have many predators... Deer camera's are going up tonight and reinforcements will be made to the coop before night. My babies free range completely during the day. How could one animal have done this kind of damage and show NO signs of entry or exit?

 

[petalumapaul]

Wow. I'm very sorry.
All I can say is go over your coop and run with a fine toothed comb. I have read that mink and weasels can come in a pretty small hole.
Waiting doesn't sound fun.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

What sort of enclosure were the chickens in - if wire, what sort of wire (gauge, size of openings, etc), if an enclosed coop, are there any openings (ventilation) that are not covered or what sort of wire are they covered with?

 

[Chickie Baby]

Coop is wood with welded metal wire mesh - very thick and solid. The bottom of the coop is surrounded with a solid wire fencing (not chicken wire), don't know the gauge, but my pinky finger is the size of square openings. The door is also welded metal. There is one spot around the top of the fence that had a 2 inch gap. That is the only place possible that I could put my hand through. No hair, feathers or anything at that site.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Believe it or not, plenty of critters can get through a 2 inch gap and leave not a sign of it. So very sorry for your losses.

 

[iwiw60]

Coop is wood with welded metal wire mesh - very thick and solid. The bottom of the coop is surrounded with a solid wire fencing (not chicken wire), don't know the gauge, but my pinky finger is the size of square openings. The door is also welded metal. There is one spot around the top of the fence that had a 2 inch gap. That is the only place possible that I could put my hand through. No hair, feathers or anything at that site.

Trust me, that 'gap' you speak of? That's not the only place they could get in through. You said you've used welded metal wire mesh...probably 2" x 3 or 4" ??? All kinds of predators can get through that EASILY. I highly recommend using 1/2" hardware cloth buried at least 12" into the ground. Plug up any and all gaps, no matter how small they seem.

I am SO very sorry for your losses...tragic for sure. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to mine...keep us informed and you might try using a "live-trap" and see if you can catch that scumbag....one they've got the taste of blood.....they'll be back!

 

[Chickie Baby]

This is the inside welded steel windows

Lower door and wire

 

[littlelizzy123]

I'm thinking mink or weasel, or some other member of the mustelid family. Could have also been a racoon. Anything larger than the size of a nickel a weasel can squeeze right through. They are a bit like snakes with legs, although, even though they are so vicious, I can't help thinking they are pretty cute. Racoons can get their arms through the wire and pull though whatever they can get and chew it.

Years ago, I had a weasel get in and kill 12 large ducks in one night. We found it got in though a 3/4" gap in between the board and the wire where a staple had come loose. We knew it was a weasel because nothing but that creature can get through such a tiny hole, and he left some brown fur behind on a sharp bit of wire. The ducks weren't even really eaten, just bloodied and missing heads.

This is why my new coop will have the 1/2" wire sandwiched between the boards.

As to how the two chickens are missing altogether, that is a another mystery. Sometimes I think weasels kill for the thrill of it, other times they are bringing food back to their babies in the dens. Especially now that babies are arriving, I'm thinking the latter. Check for loose panels of wire or something burrowing underneath. I have a feeling your predator will come back soon now that they know they can get a good meal. I'm so sorry for your losses.

 

[petalumapaul]

The place looks like Fort Knox

 

[Chickie Baby]

I expect to have predators, but we did build our coop in hopes of it keeping out the larger animals. I feel so bad because, we get them and are supposed to protect them from things like this. I know we can't help everything that happens, but I know my little "Fort Knox" will be much safer by evening. I just hope my babies go back to their coop tonight for bed and are not so traumatized by what happened to their sisters and brother. littlelizzy, I have never seen any mink or weasels in our area, but that's not to say we don't have them around.
We have plenty of bobcat, racoons, possums and skunk....