predator identification

[noidhndlr]

Hello,
I had 12 baby chicks ranging from 1 to 6 days old with their mother in a seperate pen. The only other critters I have seen in the pen are mice. Yesterday I came home and found three dead chicks. Two missing heads and the third a younger one only part left was a leg and thigh. Would this be from my hen?


Thanks
Holly

 

[Backyard Hencam]

No, a hen would not do that. It sounds like a rat. They will attack chicks. I'm sorry you lost your chicks. A hen has no defenses against predators like rats.

 

[R@ndy]

yep, sounds like a Rat

I would set a couple traps and nail that darn thing

 

[Frieza]

Rats don´t remove the head. It´s more like minks and polecats to do such thing and they will probably be back to kill more or/and get the dead bodies of their last visit when they get hungry.

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

Oh that is horrible, those poor little babies!!

Darn critters, it could be a rat, maybe a weasel? I would examine every inch of the area to see where it could have gotten in. And critter prepare for war!!!

 

[noidhndlr]

Thanks so much for the responses. Hopefully all will be ok when I get home today. I will go a hunting!


Holly

 

[LeghornLisa]

what is a polecat?

 

[Monk]

It sounds like a weasel to me???

 

[RendonRoo]

A polecat is a skunk.

 

[Frieza]

It´s not a skunk. Check google. It looks almost like a mink.