Predators and baby chicks

[Debstar1204]

I need some help please- I currently have 21 baby chicks oldest a week old. They are locked up inside a pen ( wooden house) every night and I open door to a run every morning so mum can take them out and scratch etc. the last 2 mornings I have found 1 chick with its insides coming out!! Like something has had a go at it I'm stumped as to how this can happen when they are locked up. Has anyone else heard of this? I don't want to loose anymore, what could it be, rats????
I saw 2 tiny holes under the edge of the coop, which I have now blocked off. It wouldn't be mum or other chicks doing this would it??

Thank you

 

[LRH97]

How frustrating! If there are no more openings in the coop, then maybe something is getting into the run? Something could be digging under it or going over it, if you don't have anything on top. If mom or any of the other chicks have not shown any aggression, I seriously doubt it would them.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Rats and weasels kill chickens...but I don't know which predator it would be in your case. Only 1/2 inch hardware cloth will keep out rats and weasels (on coop windows).