Need Help! Something Killed My Babies!!!!!!

[KalikoFarms]

Our very first hatch was 27 crosses of Barred Rock Rooster and RIR. We hatched 27 out of 30. Sorry I repeated myself I am just so upset now.
We transferred everyone of the babies into a varmit free (WE THOUGHT) tractor type coop that was made permanent with chicken wire in the ground, tin roofing along with deer mesh. They have been out there for almost 3 weeks and have been getting so big and cute. We went out this morning to feed and water and all but 4 were just laying there dead. There were feathers scattered but not like you would think. I cant stop crying........they were so loving.
Anyway can a skunk get into verrrrrrry small holes and will they do that? We thought we had coyotes before but they took the big chickens off and the eggs and the watermelons from the field. We have taken care of that problem and now we have a very (excuse me) skunk. A BIGGGG A***** one that we have seen around here a week ago.
Please anyone help with ideas of what to do. I have a live trap but if I trap it how do I hawl it off. We dont have guns so I cant shoot the thing. I have two incubators full of crested and silkies and I really need to make outside safe for them. My big chickens are just fine. I have the meanest darn barred rock rooster that has ever lived. Even we have to protect ourselves when we feed them.
Thanks
Rita

 

[Wolftalk]

how old are they?

 

[KalikoFarms]

8 weeks old and so beautiful. Even got my two buff crested.......

 

[allieloveschickens]

Sorry for your loss

were there signs of how the critter got in? ripped wire? a hole? signs of digging? I'm not sure what deer wire is, but I know a lot of predators can rip through chicken wire. Were any of them eaten at all? (sorry to ask such a sad question but it might help figure out the culprit) Definitely set a trap!

 

[welasharon]

You have to use stronger wire and wire with holes like 1/2 x1/2 inch. I don't know where you are located but here it is hardware cloth. Can you tell how it got in? Was anything pulled loose or ripped through. When you say small holes.....what does it measure side to side and top to top of the hole?
sharon

 

[~MegChristine(:]

Im so sorry I know how you feel because I had the same thing happen to me. It turned out to be a Mink. A member of the weasel family! If you know what a ferret looks like, it looks like that only bigger! They are impossible to get rid of! Been fighting it for a year now. Shot guns, live traps, then real traps. NOTHING worked. They can get through holes thats not even imaginable!! Make sure to extra lock them up at night, even when its hot out. It better being hot then dead! Any more questions just ask. Hope it helps!

 

[KalikoFarms]

Thanks everyone. Yes there were a couple of places that looked like the wire had been stretched a bit. But it would have had to be something that could do some sqeeeeeezing through. We are located in northeastern part of Alabama on Sand Mountain. We have beavers that keeps stopping up one of our catfish ponds and about 3 yrs ago my oldest son lived up here by me and he raised ferretts. I am just wondering if they could survive the weather in the winter here. I dont know that much about them. I am going to investigate (look on the internet) and find out if we have weasles here, I have never heard of any. That dosent mean that they arent here.
On a good note 4 of the babies were saved and in a kennel in the spare bedroom. One does look like it was attacked so I am doctoring it. Everyone here has been so kind and helpful. Thanks again.
Rita

 

[chicmom]

Hi Rita!

I'm so sorry this happened! I think it might have been a mink. They are slender and can squeeze through chicken wire.

To be safe, you need hardware cloth. I have no idea why it's called "cloth", because it's not cloth. It's like this wire fencing with very small squares that nothing can get through, and it's very tough. You can buy it in rolls and nail that down with steeples. Then your chicks will be very safe.

Hugs to you and good luck with your hatch!

Sharon

 

[BrownSheep]

If I'm correct in my thinking, you probly have pretty mild winter compared to us. We generally get 3+ft of snow and don't get above freezing for WEEKS. They can survive here so they can probaly survive there.

 

[okiedrifter]

a couple of years ago my youngest son asked for a ferret I asked about them at a pet shop they advised me agaisnt them because I have birds (canaries) they said those devils could get into any bird cage....so you may have some of those ferrets gone wild....if so hardware cloth may be your only saving grace....they have found food you may wanna watch your older chickens also.....