mole hills and chickens????

[2hens]

I have 2 hens left from the original 6, and something is burrowing around the coop! I have chicken wire floor and all around the coop. Several months ago I think it was a fox, as it dug a big hole and I could see where it had gotten under the chicken wire and had been pressing up! I have put logs and bricks and rocks all around the edges of the coop and something recently is burrowing... but it looks like big mole hills that come from the woods and go straight for the chicken coop! Besides moles, I am not aware of anything else that travels underground.... does anyone have any ideas? This creature also digs as I see the soil etc in sort of a pile like when a dog digs.... does anyone know what I am dealing with? Thanks

 

[farmhouse21]

Sorry to hear about all your troubles. We too have mole hills near our chicken coop, but don't think that is what is getting into our barn. We have an older barn with a dirt floor where we house our goats in the main part of the barn and in a separate room is the chickens. We noticed that same type of pattern of digging in our barn. A hole (tunnel) that looks like a dog has dug, because there is a pile of dirt left behind. Some say it is a rat others a weasel, and others have suggested a mink. Today we finally let our girls out into the fenced in area. We lost three of our new chicks and had to keep them in a large box at night within their coop area. After two weeks of doing this we have not seen any more holes. Last night was the first time we let them stay in their area without putting them in the large box. So far so good, but we are still combing the coop area so improve security from intruders. Keeping out fingers crossed. Good luck!