The Sniper
Chirping
I recently bought some chicks at a nearby RK. They were put into a 100 gal trough spread with large flake pine bedding, with waterer, feed tray, and covered with a metal rack with square holes precisely 2¾" wide. The chicks were kept on the front porch up against the wall under the roof.
This morning in the trough, all but one single chick were dead with about half having entrails strewn about them. Their heads were mostly eaten. None appeared to be missing.
In this area we have plenty of opossums, some skunks, and a few coons. We also have LOADS of hawks and vultures, and quite a few eagles too, not to mention the owls, which have attacked the chickens before. I have seen a weasel once nearby.
Recently I also had a young goat dead inside its electified mesh fence. Its leg was nearly torn off, but not eaten. I am not sure whether the two incidents are connected.
My LGD recently disappeared with no trace so there is no active protection currently.
We do have 5 outdoor cats. They don't seem to be interested in chicks. They aren't even curious, but they do hunt mice and rats away from home.
Could anybody tell me about what would kill 34 chicks without eating them (and leave one untouched).
I have since covered my other chicks with ¼x½ mesh on an angle iron frame.
Pictures of the original setup
This morning in the trough, all but one single chick were dead with about half having entrails strewn about them. Their heads were mostly eaten. None appeared to be missing.
In this area we have plenty of opossums, some skunks, and a few coons. We also have LOADS of hawks and vultures, and quite a few eagles too, not to mention the owls, which have attacked the chickens before. I have seen a weasel once nearby.
Recently I also had a young goat dead inside its electified mesh fence. Its leg was nearly torn off, but not eaten. I am not sure whether the two incidents are connected.
My LGD recently disappeared with no trace so there is no active protection currently.
We do have 5 outdoor cats. They don't seem to be interested in chicks. They aren't even curious, but they do hunt mice and rats away from home.
Could anybody tell me about what would kill 34 chicks without eating them (and leave one untouched).
I have since covered my other chicks with ¼x½ mesh on an angle iron frame.
Pictures of the original setup
I’ll let you know how it goes! Hope you get yours!
