Murder Mystery, what killed my chicks??????

[Ducksandchickens]

Well a small kind of weasel lives and thrives in South Carolina. Do you live there or around there?

 

[Ducksandchickens]

Then it could be a weasle

 

[Ducksandchickens]

I’m super sorry. I know it’s hard losing animals. I wish I could help you more but I have to go somewhere

 

[DempsK01]

Chickens should be able to defend it said against a rat.

That's what i thought, they were all very big (may have been close to 9 weeks I picked them up from my local feed store and they had a mix of 1-2 weeks olds that i picked from) and my full grown chicken and ducks i thought would be a deterrent to something small like a rat. I put the food up at night and it's stored in an airtight container and the run backs up to my house on one side and has chicken wire other than a screen door on the other 3 sides. I don't have any hawk cloth over the top because it does back up to the house and that usually deters the hawks that a out in droves this year.

 

[DempsK01]

I’m super sorry. I know it’s hard losing animals. I wish I could help you more but I have to go somewhere

Thank you very much for all your help I really appreciate it!!

 

[Ducksandchickens]

 

[GardenTillers44]

I'm sorry for your loss. My first thought after reading this thread was some kind of weasel. There are three species of weasel in NC, including mink. We and our neighbors have had mink issues before and Long-tailed and Least weasels are no different. They will kill for pleasure, stash and just because they can, and they can get through about any crack or opening. I added a link of weasel distribution in NC so you can see what might be in your area.
http://www.dpr.ncparks.gov/mammals/view.php?species_id=76

 

[mike1970]

no roof or wire cloth on top

 

[DempsK01]

I'm sorry for your loss. My first thought after reading this thread was some kind of weasel. There are three species of weasel in NC, including mink. We and our neighbors have had mink issues before and Long-tailed and Least weasels are no different. They will kill for pleasure, stash and just because they can, and they can get through about any crack or opening. I added a link of weasel distribution in NC so you can see what might be in your area.
http://www.dpr.ncparks.gov/mammals/view.php?species_id=76

I had no idea! Thank you very much I really appreciate it!!

 

[DempsK01]

no roof or wire cloth on top

The coops have roofs and they are lifted up off the ground so the chickens can go under them or in them for coverage but the run itself does not have a cover, with it backing up onto the house we didn't feel it necessary as being so close to the house has deterred predatory birds