Predator, what is it.

[UNCLEG]

In the last month I have lost two hens, to what I don't know. Both have been lost at night. One had been pulled through the 2x4 welded wire. I have 1 inch chicken wire up tree feet all the around the welded wire. Nothing has dug in the is 3 feet of welded wire out from the actual pen and the top is complete covered with 2x4 welded wire. The Hens in question were among the the 5 now 3 hens that sleep on top of hen house. I think something is grabbing them from top. The hen this morning appeared to have a bite on back of neck, it was still dark when I found her around 6:30 AM. still in pen. I never did find the first hen , from the feathers it appeared to have been pulled out through 2x4 wire, the chicken wire had bee damaged by me with lawnmower earlier that week and was still on the to do list, my bad. Any Ideas??

UNCLEG

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Raccoons are know for this and are good climbers.

 

[rooster-red]

Sounds like a racoon.

 

[tiffanyh]

Can you start shutting them in at night- in a coop?

 

[UNCLEG]

Well I lost another in a seperate pen, also built like a fortress, hen always roosted near top of pen. I have since wired off the roof, forcing hens to roof in chicken house, no more have turned up missing since. Gonna set a trap and see what I catch, I figure its a opposum or a racoon. Let ya know how it goes.