I'm losing all my babies, can anyone help, please?

[beckym67]

OMG! They're such beautiful animals, it's too bad they're so nasty. I'm still waiting for my hubby to bring home a couple of traps so we can set them near the old coop and see what we catch. Now I'm really curious. My new ducks are enjoying the basement at night in their cage and enjoying the daytime outside in their cage for now. There was nothing left of these babies this time. I only found some feathers, no body parts anywhere. Weird.

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Though I live in the suburbs we have all kinds of predators about - coyote, fox, raccoons, rats, hawks, snakes and once we even saw an owl. A neighbor told me how her hens had been taken by raccoons. That is why we built a coop that they are locked into each night and only released into the secure run during the day. They hens are very good about putting themselves to bed at sundown and once that pop door is closed the only thing that I think could get in there would be a snake or perhaps a small mouse. If it is a snake it will more than likely be the corn snake that escaped from his snake abode a few month back - but he cannot hurt the Delighful Dozen - just future eggs.

Build well, build strong and secure and good luck with this new coop.

 

[d.k]

* You could try sprinkling/sifting some cornstarch or flour around and see what prints you come up with as well.

 

[Half-a-dozen]

Quote:
Same thing has been happening here. I thought our coop/run was very secure. I'm learning....The only way anything is very secure is behind closed doors lock and key!

I still have not figured out what is pulling mine thru the fencing.... with no traces or a stich of evidence except some feathers to prove there was actually a chicken there!
Stranger yet I found a head off but the body was left in the center of the run. Once the head came off was it possible the lil fella still twiched and jerked to move his beheaded lil body 2 feet away from his attacker? I am still trying to figure that one out. We have chicken wire which I have to agree is useless as far as security goes.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Half-a-dozen]

d.k :

* You could try sprinkling/sifting some cornstarch or flour around and see what prints you come up with as well.

Clever, I think I will do this!

 

[Rainman]

quote:
Some of the chickens were left in the run with their heads in one place and the chest cavity wide open in another.

These wounds are consistent with weasle behavior.

Weasels will kill several birds and take them back to their hole to save for later.

 

[beckym67]

d.k :

* You could try sprinkling/sifting some cornstarch or flour around and see what prints you come up with as well.

That's a great idea but we've had so much rain here it would be pointless to do it now. Maybe eventually I can use that idea. I'm baffled as to what it might be.​