My First Intruder

krazeepolack · Sep 20, 2010

I just brought home 26 hens to start raising chickens. They were hatched on 8-11-10. On the 3rd day in their new coop/cage, morning inspection showed two small holes where someone/something tried to tunnel into their pen. I thought my pen was bullet proofed for illegal entry. I used 1" X 1/2" welded screening, thinking no real/normal predator could crawl through such a small hole, I proceeded into the coop for cleaning/feeding. As I reached into the feed barrel, a quick unexpected movement nearby caught my attention. I sent all my chicks outside, & proceeded to apprehend the intruder. What a shock to find a small "rabbit" had squirmed his way into the pen/coop!! One feed bowl was completely empty. Bugs Bunny must have had a very full tummy. When last seen, he was doing about 130 mph across the acreage, w/a dust cloud trailing behind. Can a small rabbit be classified as a predator or a trespasser?

ADozenGirlz · Sep 20, 2010

Quote:Sneaky!! I'm not sure he could do any harm besides ingesting all of the food though!

ibpboo · Sep 20, 2010

I am not sure if a bunny is a predator. They usually do not eat meat that I know of. I have a bunny that free ranges with my chickens.

theFox · Sep 20, 2010

Sorry, the bunny isn't a predator, they are prey just like your chickens.

Well feed ones are tasty. Us fox sure like them.

txchickie · Sep 20, 2010

Bunnies are friends

krazeepolack · Sep 20, 2010

When I wrote-"RABBIT" predator or trespasser?, I included it as a funny , but some folks thought I was evidently serious. Sorry for the boo boo!

7L Farm · Sep 20, 2010

Glad it was just a bunny.Hope you fix the hole before a real predator finds it. I once found a bunny living in one of my cantaloupes.

Chicken Delight · Sep 20, 2010

I think you have to be be very careful with large white bunnies living in caves. They can be predatory, particularly if you are dressed up as King Arthur's Knights of the Roundtable. Good luck with your infestation.