lost 3 chicks again!

[needtohatch]

What would take 3 chicks (2-3 weeks old) at night right our from under their mom? This has happened now with two different hens. The first was about a week ago and then last night. There is no sign of the chicks and no damage to mom. I have lost no older chicks that have "outgrown" mom or any adult birds. Please any ideas!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

What is the largest opening in your coop that a predator can get through? That will help narrow down the choices.

 

[RedRoosterFarm]

Rats take them and maybe a snake?

 

[CubRed]

yup, rats or snakes...

 

[needtohatch]

Quote:
They free range 24/7. They roost in the barn which is an old tabbaco barn so lot of holes ( it has a nice enclosed room in the middle that we set up roosts and is very secure but they wont go in it), we had been working on closing the barn up but it is old and my husband decieded it was not worth it. Anything cat size or smaller can get in. We do have a barn cat (who thinks he is a chicken since he grew up with them, even gets in the middle of them when we throw scraps out). We had some possums get in last summer, but that was before we closed up the biggest openings and got the cat and have had nothing since.

Would a snake or rat take 3 chicks in one night and then wait a week to come back? I have been having hens hatch since spring and up till this have not lost a single chick. Even had a one pullet abandon her chicks at about 2 weeks and did not lose any.

Thanks for all your replies.

 

[zazouse]

If you have a barn cat then i say snake probably more than one, they can go along time without feeding once they have eaten and a cat is not going to mess with a large snake at least none of mine will.

I have seen one of my cats actually sit on a 5 foot rat snake once, i was watching the snake when the cat came up to get petted and he sat right down on top of it

the Snake didn't even care just layed there.

I guess they have known each other for a while i see the snake alot and a smaller one that hangs with it.

 

[needtohatch]

Quote:
I guess I never thought a snake would take babies right out from under a hen. I know there are snakes around (see road kill), but have only seen 2(one garden snake and one very young cow snake) on our property in the two years we have lived here. I would rather have snakes than rats. I guess I will have to see about getting hubby to build some pens/cages for my hens with chicks. Maybe that way if a snake gets in it wont get out after it eats the ckick and I will know for sure.