Not a predator - rather a killer!

[sewingca]

Whoever did this, entered the coop. I don't think a hawk will do that. It was at night when all were roosting. We have had two hawk attacks during the day. We lost a courageous rooster during one attack and a young bird during the second. Our fencing is chicken wire (too small for anything but a mouse) to answer bobbi-j. Oh, is that how you spell possum? I couldn't 'member!

 

[berkeleysprings]

i still say raccoon but get your self a game camera for 35 or 40 bucks and u can see what ever comes around at night in total darkness also we use a baby moniter (coop is 30 yeard but it works) that way u can run out ther and get em

 

[knjinnm]

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It's not unusual for a predator to eat the brain then the other high protein organs.
Never assume there are no predators in you area.

 

[knjinnm]

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If it's large enough for a mouse it's large enough for a snake, get something smaller like quarter inch mesh for the bottom two feet of your run.

 

[knjinnm]

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All rodents climb, keep your run covered.

 

[theFox]

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All rodents climb, keep your run covered.

Raccoons and weasels are not rodents.

If the coop is inside an uncovered run and the coop doors were open you could have had a visit by a very large number of predators.

Wetlands are home to mink, and other critters like weasels, fisher, river otters, all of whom eat meat.

If the wetlands have beaver then you will likely have bobcats nearby.

 

[knjinnm]

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That's my point, keep the run covered especially if you live in an area with a lot of critters.

 

[HeritageHens]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Mary is identical to my beloved Fiona and I just can't imagine losing her to a predator.

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Weasels can easily get through chicken wire. I have ferrets and someone turned in a "baby ferret" to our shelter. It was a full grown weasel and it was so small compared to ferrets.

Put up 1/4 or 1/2 inch metal hardware cloth at least 3 feet up on the sides, all the way up would be better.

 

[ga_goat]

It's a possom I've lost 20 or 30 birds to that same proceedure over the last 3 or 4 years , they rip off the heads and drink the blood , there is usually a lot of feathers but little blood .possom every time .

 

[sewingca]

We purchased a game cam at Christmas time and have not seen anyone attempt to enter the heavily barricaded area. Well, this afternoon there were two photos of possums climbing the gate and one photo of a raccoon on the other side of the fenced area by the gate. My DH deleted all photos, but I now know what took out my beloved Mary. We have been diligent about closing up at dusk since that awful incident. We will never forget to close up again since I've now seen the killer in person! The possums were climbing the gate (covered with chicken wire) and headed for the top (covered with chicken wire) - as long as we secure the gate, the girls are safe at nighttime. Spring will be here soon, and then, I'll have to watch the hawks.