Raccoon? Missing chicken. Help!

[Johnnyschicks]

Hi all! I am new to raising chickens. We recently got 3 and they are about 3 months old now. I woke up this morning to a chicken missing. There were a few holes attempted around the coop (we have large rocks buried underground which is why I thought it would be a good spot for the coop, can’t dig into it) but finally some bricks were moved and something was able to get inside. I’m thinking a raccoon but not positive. We live in a residential neighborhood so that’s the only predator I can think of. What type of predator do you think it could be? Any suggestion on securing the coop? I’m so scared it will come back tonight.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

In my experiences raccoons kill, and eat on site. Generally just the head and crop.

Fox, and coyote will dig, and carry birds off. Definitely need to do something about the hole.

 

[TOR]

Raccoons will carry a bird away as well as eat them on site. Racoons are crafty. If the hole underneath is not that big I would say a racoon.
Hard to tell the opening under the coop. A brick is about 2.75 to 3 inch high. I would say a coon. Possibly a fox. A coon will dig, grab, pull, push, undo locks, and chew.
A coon will eat a bird whole, feathers and all. They may not all the time, but given time they will or eat till they are full.
What ever it was will be back for more.
You could put up a game camera figure out what it is, but better fix your coop,
Also you could check your laws and live trap it and move it.

 

[mowin]

Consider a HC apron around your coop and run. Extended it out 18". Do a search on this site for predator apron, and you'll see many examples.

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

Raccoon most likely.

 

[Johnnyschicks]

Consider a HC apron around your coop and run. Extended it out 18". Do a search on this site for predator apron, and you'll see many examples.

Will do, thank you!

 

[Johnnyschicks]

Raccoons will carry a bird away as well as eat them on site. Racoons are crafty. If the hole underneath is not that big I would say a racoon.
Hard to tell the opening under the coop. A brick is about 2.75 to 3 inch high. I would say a coon. Possibly a fox. A coon will dig, grab, pull, push, undo locks, and chew.
A coon will eat a bird whole, feathers and all. They may not all the time, but given time they will or eat till they are full.
What ever it was will be back for more.
You could put up a game camera figure out what it is, but better fix your coop,
Also you could check your laws and live trap it and move it.

Put a camera out last night, it came back and was a raccoon! Luckily the chickens were safe after securing the door to the coop but I know it will be back again tonight. We got a trap and can hopefully catch it before it gets another one. It was pretty big, I can’t believe it was able to fit in such a small hole!

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

Put a camera out last night, it came back and was a raccoon! Luckily the chickens were safe after securing the door to the coop but I know it will be back again tonight. We got a trap and can hopefully catch it before it gets another one. It was pretty big, I can’t believe it was able to fit in such a small hole!

They are persistent and can do a lot of things you wouldn’t think they could.

 

[TomGallopavo]

Consider a HC apron around your coop and run. Extended it out 18". Do a search on this site for predator apron, and you'll see many examples.

We did this and have not once had a problem with entry. Just bop. And we have them all aplenty...

 

[TOR]

Put a camera out last night, it came back and was a raccoon! Luckily the chickens were safe after securing the door to the coop but I know it will be back again tonight. We got a trap and can hopefully catch it before it gets another one. It was pretty big, I can’t believe it was able to fit in such a small hole!

I have heard if a coon can get its head thru a opening it will get its body thru. DO not for fact if true.
As mentioned they are persistent, and can do a lot of damage.