I have a major predictor problem please help me

[Mrsroeder2012]

I have a bad predictor problem and they are eating my chickens and digging hole in the ground under my coop and every time I cover them, they keep makeing new ones, I'm not happy about this and don't know what to do about it....... I need this to stop if u have any ideas on what to do or what it is so I can fix it, tell me here are some pictures of what I have thank you

 

[Ramblin Rooster]

I have a bad predictor problem and they are eating my chickens and digging hole in the ground under my coop and every time I cover them, they keep makeing new ones, I'm not happy about this and don't know what to do about it....... I need this to stop if u have any ideas on what to do or what it is so I can fix it, tell me

here are some pictures of what I have thank you

First of all. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Many chicken keepers lose their first couple chickens, but don't be discouraged, you can get a handle on controlling predators with experience from fellow BYCers.

Second, that is most definitely a mink problem.

They are very small, and dig holes just like that. They also eat organs and the insides of the chickens just like that. What we do if bury 6 inches of hardware cloth all around the perimeter of the coop and run. Then cover ALL small holes, because they can squeeze into holes the size of a quarter. You can set mouse traps and put out poison, as long as chickens, kids, and pets cannot get to it, because that can help control minks. Minks are terrible predators because of how they basically 'hollow out' your chickens and can get into small holes. Usually there aren't many of these, so if you can catch one in the act and put a bullet through its head you may not have any more problems.

Hardware cloth all around is definitely very important. Make sure its the kind with 1/2" or 1/4" holes so they can't squeeze through. Chicken wire won't work!

Good luck getting rid of this terrible pest.

 

[centrarchid]

If attacks at night a trap can be baited with a carcass with entrails intact. For short term move birds if practical.

 

[aart]

An wire mesh apron is better for deterring diggers, attached to the bottom of the coop and/or run wall and going out 1-2 ft.
If you bury the wall down 6 inches, or even a foot, many will just dig down and under it, but when they start to dig at the base of the wall and hit mesh, they don't know to back up a foot or more and start digging, and will quickly get discouraged and leave.