Lost Two Overnight: What Gets Through a 4" Hole?

[RGBistro]

I had a sinking feeling when I noticed a feather about 20 yards out from reaching the run this morning.

When I got to the door, there were 6 very still 8-week old ladies looking at me. No one was moving. No one was cheeping.

I looked into the cardboard box I had lying in the run, thinking the other two were hiding.

Nope.

That's when I noticed there was a 4" x 12" hole dug out from underneath the frame of the run.

What was the culprit?

- Kim

P.S. My husband later found the two (silver laced wyandotte and easter egger). They had been dragged clear across our property and partially eaten. Then left right outside our kitchen door.

 

[Imp]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

4 x 12 is a pretty large hole. Almost any predator could make a try at a hole that size. Up your security, and put an apron around the run.

Imp

 

[MEchickenfarmer33]

a weasel could fit through a little hole like that with no problem

 

[bobbi-j]

4"x12"? Mink, possum, cat, rat, snake, small dog, small coon.... the possibilities are endless. I hope you get whatever the varmint is.

 

[lowry075]

I am sorry for your loss.

I live in Fullerton, so we're in the same county. We have: rats, oppossums, raccoons, coyotes, dogs and cats. I doubt it was a cat or rat based on what you've said so far. I am assuming you have a fenced yard, so I would scratch the coyote or dog off the list too. It sounds gross, but what parts were eaten? It may help someone identify the likely predator.

 

[RGBistro]

Quote:
I'm in between Tustin and Orange, near Peters Canyon.

So we know there are lots of critters around. Including hawks, which is why the run is 100% fully enclosed with hardware cloth. We just didn't think to reinforce UNDER the dirt UNDER the bottom frames. Now we know. Fixing that today.

We do have a fenced in yard, so I don't think it would have been a coyote or dog, either. I have a 50-lb. weimaraner, but she sleeps inside with us at night, and is never left unattended (her choice, not ours). And I doubt she'd fit in the 4" x 12" hole that was dug. And I'm almost certain this happened in the middle of the night.

Yep, the parts were eaten... partially. The heads and feet were left intact, but they were definitely carved out in the middle.

My guess is... raccoon?!

- Kim

 

[Ole rooster]

I was thinking most anything that wanted in could get through a hole that size. Well not a bear, coyote or bobcat, but most pest we're concerned about.

 

[lowry075]

I think a raccoon is a safe bet. They can reach through and tear off parts as well. I would build an apron around your run with hardware cloth. There are threads with photos of what this looks like. The apron will deter digging predators from being able to break through.


.
Quote:
I'm in between Tustin and Orange, near Peters Canyon.

So we know there are lots of critters around. Including hawks, which is why the run is 100% fully enclosed with hardware cloth. We just didn't think to reinforce UNDER the dirt UNDER the bottom frames. Now we know. Fixing that today.

We do have a fenced in yard, so I don't think it would have been a coyote or dog, either. I have a 50-lb. weimaraner, but she sleeps inside with us at night, and is never left unattended (her choice, not ours). And I doubt she'd fit in the 4" x 12" hole that was dug. And I'm almost certain this happened in the middle of the night.

Yep, the parts were eaten... partially. The heads and feet were left intact, but they were definitely carved out in the middle.

My guess is... raccoon?!

- Kim

 

[speckledhen]

Actually, a 4" hole is HUGE. Most predators can squeeze through that. A weasel can even get through 1" chicken wire.

 

[leadwolf1]

I would say even a big coon could get through a hole that size depending on how it was dug. I have two full grown 100+ akitas that are getting into my small backyard from their large run and I can't find where they are going under the fence!!! Wish I could find a hole that size so that I would know how to stop them!!