My nightime visit...

[ellieroo]

http://www.bear-tracker.com/ go hear great site

 

[chicken crazed 1o1]

Have you ever had a mink or weasel in your yard ? Im guessing it was one of them .

 

[Alabama ee]

I am thinking maybe Armadillo. They have that 3 toe look. They also LOVE to dig. They eat things like termites and ants. If that is what it is, it is not going after the chickens directly. But might want their water etc. I have seen them on our land digging out Fireants. They can have ALL the Fireants they want.

However, you might want to stengthen up your coop with wire etc.

This is a cool site with different animal paw prints. http://www.gpnc.org/tracks.htm

 

[zazouse]

My guess would be an armadillo.

They raid my guinea nest here.

 

[bryan99705]

Quote:
If you check tracks, you will find the smaller weasel family members have small oval prints.

 

[bryan99705]

Looks like you have been discovered by the local predators and they bringing all there friends to check you out. Based on the photos and what you have described, you need to go Ft Knox on them and if it's real bad, start running traps 24/7. (It doesn't cost any more to occationally trap vs having one a set running all the time in various spots)

You need to lay a heavy wire skirt around the coop and run about 24" wide. Be sure to attach the inside edge to the base of your run to prevent the critters from simply pulling it away and stake it down flat if needed. If you have a minature hand print type track, you should consider wiring the top or look into premade chainlink kennel panels if they are the right size. Otherwise you should get in the habit of locking up your birds in a secure coop at night.

 

[Chick15]

It could be a mink or a skunk, I doubt it is an armadillo as we live in New jersey.....

 

[mjuenem]

Two words: electric fence. You can get everything you need for about $75. EF does a great training job on coons, skunks, etc. They WILL remember.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree. I have an electric fence and have heard critters cry out when they have touched it. They don't come back to test it out again.