Missing chicks

[lieberosebud]

We built a 6X4 pen using 1/4" wire one the sides and the bottom of the pen. We also put a metal roof on the top. The pen is by our pond (depending on the rain it is mostly water under the pen.)
I have 1 baby duck and several chicks 2 to 7 days old in the pen. Yesterday found the duck with most of one foot eaten and one chick with 2 toes eaten (assuming a racoon from underneath the pen)
BUT....... 3 peeps are missing, not a trace or feather. Could it be a snake, I doubt it , could not digiest them in 5 hours. A rat????? Could it get out of an 1/16th of an inch slot after eating 4 chicks? I thought we had the perfect environment for my babies, guess not. I am sleeping less and guarding all night long now. What could be doing this?

 

[lieberosebud]

Since the first mutilation we purchased 1/4" stall mats and put it on the bottom of the cage,. I was checking every 2 hours last night and all is well. I sure would like to get some good sleep soon. Wonder what in the heck is getting in there. Then maybe I can deal with it and get some sleep.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I will take a guess and say rats or some rodent. Sounds like it nibbled at some then ripped the small ones thru that tiny crack once it figures out the right angle. Sorry for what your going through. I’m able to borrow a live trap from a friend (big enough for a raccoon) a rat will take bait easy (can cat food). That’s the best I can do. Others with more knowledge will chime in. Good luck to you and your babies.

 

[lieberosebud]

Well good theory, but how did that fat rat/mouse get out of the pen after eating 4 chicks?
I do know the racoons ate their little feet from below but they could not pull them through a 1/4 inch hole.

 

[lieberosebud]

We never saw a wee feather. just poof! Gone!

 

[lieberosebud]

I will take a guess and say rats or some rodent. Sounds like it nibbled at some then ripped the small ones thru that tiny crack once it figures out the right angle. Sorry for what your going through. I’m able to borrow a live trap from a friend (big enough for a raccoon) a rat will take bait easy (can cat food). That’s the best I can do. Others with more knowledge will chime in. Good luck to you and your babies.

Thank you
I Well found somewhat of a solution. Just purchased stall mats so nothing can get them form below. Dear God. We thought they were so protected. I'm so very sad.
I have already made my first security round at 11 pm. Another night with no sleep.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Well...Are you able to get underneath?? Photo’s would help and what comes to my mind is gruesome. I watched my hen get a hold of a very large toad. She shook it by the legs breaking them one by one. I thought no way she’ll never fit that thing down her throat never! She broke all 4 limbs and then it’s back. I’d never seen anything like it I was shocked by the speed and efficiency she dispatched this toad and swallowed it. To me it would be like fitting a quarter into a dime slot. Does that make any sense?

 

[MissChick@dee]

Perhaps you could just move them till you get to the bottom of what’s going on.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I feel so bad for you. I hope someone has better ideas than me. Photos definitely will help so we can see what your setup looks like.

 

[50-45-1]

I dont know how far from your house is from your coop , but when i had a similar problem one winter, 5 full size chickens dead and only 1 partialy eaten. We put the baby monitor out there and sure enough around 11:30 heard some scratching and chickens starting to fidjet,went out and it was a weasel. He squesed thru a knot hole that you would only think a mouse would get thru.
The baby monito worked great!
Good luck and keep us updated.