night visitor

[mmclaughlin]

Wondering how to catch my visitor
I have notice when I go out at dark I hear something scurry away and the feeder is swinging....
now I notice a trail from under the shed to the coop there is acually a trail....
rat?? or something else??? has not touched the girls.....
thanks
Michelle

 

[Toddrick]

Mouse, chipmunk, rabbit, opposum, could be anything. But since you say it is coming from under your shed, I'd guess rabbit.

Your feeder should be inside a secure area with hardware cloth protecting it from even the smallest of invaders. Mice will still dig tiny holes and get in most likely, but that's why hanging the feeder is a good idea too.

 

[the poppster]

Wondering how to catch my visitor 
I have notice when I go out at dark I hear something scurry away and the feeder is swinging....
now I notice a trail from under the shed to the coop there is acually a trail....
rat?? or something else??? has not touched the girls.....
thanks
Michelle

Its probably a Flying Squirrel...they feed at night and sleep during the day, for the most part...don't know if they are a danger to your birds...especially if they have free access to the feeder.

 

[the poppster]

Read your post a little closer...the Trail could be a rat...Flying Squirrels usually stick to the trees...they don't travel well on the ground...we don't have any rats or opossum around here...just weasels, Fox, Raccoons,Red Squirrel...owls and other birds of prey usually aren't a problem...my pen is made of welded wire and is roofed...I don't let the birds out unless I am home.. good luck on identifying your night visitor.

 

[aart]

Wondering how to catch my visitor
I have notice when I go out at dark I hear something scurry away and the feeder is swinging....
now I notice a trail from under the shed to the coop there is acually a trail....
rat?? or something else??? has not touched the girls.....
thanks
Michelle

Is the feed in the coop or in the run?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Feed in an unsecured area is a bait station. Capturing your pest will only be a temporary fix. .......the permanent fix is to remove feed at night or keep the feed station in a secured area that is pest proof.

 

[mmclaughlin]

Feed is in the run and I will start taking it in at night ..what about the feed on the ground or scratch I throw down? Will that be an issue? The girls can be messy eater ! Haha!
Thanks for the help

 

[aart]

What kind of feed are you providing?
What kind of feeder?
Some feeds and feeders are better than others at reducing spillage.

Don't throw down more scratch than they can clean up in about 20 minutes.

I came up with a waste free feeder for the crumbles I use.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-almost-waste-free-funnel-bucket-feeder