Predator Killed Two Coturnix

[ManitobaQuail]

Hi folks, hope everyone’s staying healthy!

This morning I went out to the hutch, located at the end of our yard by the fence, and found 2 dead quail.

One was stuck on the side of the back wall (the only side built with wooden penals instead of hardware cloth), head removed. And the other one was just dead (could be unrelated).

I am located in Canada, it’s still just below freezing here. And these birds are about 5 week old.

I’ve kept my birds there in the same hutch for two years and never encountered a problem like this. What do you think it was? A rat? Raccoon? (If it was a raccoon I’d be surprised because we put a bunch of beaches and scrap pieces of wood around the hutch to stop our dogs from going near the hutch to eat the poop..and these wood aren’t moved).

Do I need to take action to catch the predator right away? Or should I wait and see? Please help!

 

[Ratchnick]

How big is the mesh?

 

[ManitobaQuail]

How big is the mesh?

1/2 inch. Probably not through the mesh, the dead one missing the head was stuck on the wooden panels which have a bit of a bigger gap between each panel

 

[Quailobsessed]

I am sorry about your loss.
Have you had anything like this before? Do you know what predators are in your area?

 

[ManitobaQuail]

I am sorry about your loss.
Have you had anything like this before? Do you know what predators are in your area?

No, we’ve kept them there for two years and no issues. We do have a lot of raccoons and coyotes here.

 

[Quailobsessed]

Do you think it could be a raccoon or coyote?
I wouldn't know how to tell if it was either of them. The only predators I get here are rats, cats and the occasional hawk.

 

[Ratchnick]

I'm guessing some type of weasel. They go for the head, classic weasel. They are also very small, if a quarter can pass through the hole so can a weasel. Reaching through is a whole different matter.

 

[mdees88]

Doubt it's a coyote, might be the raccoons. Once they figure out how to get to them they will likely keep on killing. You can set up a game camera to see what it is. I had my quail for around 2 years and had read that raccoons could reach through 1/2" hardware cloth and kill the quail but I had never had a problem. Then I lost 9 quail in 2 nights. A few were dead and didn't appear to have any obvious wounds (missing head/wings) but after further inspection he pulled one or both of their legs off through the wire floor.

Him being pulled tight up against the wood makes me think raccoon. I'm curious if the other dead one is missing a leg possibly?