Rats+Chicks=Mourning...

[OneLostHen]

So I tucked my little birdies in last nite. They settled in nicely as usual.. Well this morning I went out to find my innocent little things have been mauled and were under their house they sleep in...

Oh lord it was bad... We think rats because the night before we chased some away from the run. And the birds were eaten in such a small place..

I feel so horrible!!! I know they were just 4.50$ birds you can get from any feed store.. But they were MY babies and MY responsibility and I failed terribly... So innocent and helpless.

Probably wouldn't be as bad if I wasn't the one who found them.. It still would be terrible, but gosh, finding them myself.. The little tan one didn't have a head anymore and the dark one was completely torn up.. Just makes me sick.
I haven't even had them for two weeks... I believe it was some chicken food being left out at night that attracted the rats. And when they saw helpless babies sleeping peacefully they couldn't resist... If this tragedy could do one thing only, I hope it can make people realize how fragile these things can be. I was one who thought my set up was "bomb proof".. What a rude awakening... Now its my babies who paid the ultimate price.

RIP My Little Fuzzies.. I'm so sorry.

This is how ill remember them.... Preening and pecking without a care..

 

[sansert]

Thats horrible. Sorry for your loss. I remember as a kid when I started with Homing Pigeons I had a cat get in thru the bars and kill one of my baby pigeons. To make it worse, the cat caused another bird that had been sitting on eggs to break one open. When she stood up, the whole bloody mess was hanging off of her belly. I remember running in the house just bawling. We learn from our mistakes. Sorry again for your loss.

 

[OneLostHen]

How sad!!!!

I just wish learning from mistakes wasn't so hard... Or costly to somethings life...

Going to get revenge on those darn rats, better proof my yard and put the food away tightly every night. Then I might try chicks again.. I do want more chickens, but potentially going through this again, not sure..

 

[PDXcluck]

I am trying to prevent rat issues myself, since I know they are around (have seen them on the utility wires at night). I am wondering what your chicks were sleeping in, and if you figured out how the rat or rats got in? Did they chew through wood or get through hardware cloth? What was the biggest "open space" for them to access the chicks?

I am deeply sorry for your loss and wish you the best of luck if you get new chicks!

 

[OneLostHen]

I had them in a dog house, the Igloo kind with hay on the floor. Had a chicken wire run around it as a temporary set up.. And some chicken wire on the front of the opening of the dog house. So in theory the chicks couldn't get out and get in trouble. But obviously the rats could push it open..

I just don't understand why they would want my babies and not leave after their fill of chicken food.. The food dish was still full, but birds, gone.

 

[missypebble]

I am utterly sorry for your loss - I truly am. I also have the same sentiments toward chickens - I lost one myself, due to a dog attack and everyone thought I was one of the most insane ppl that they've ever met when they learned I lost a chicken. The general comment is "can't you just simply get another one? ...if it is only a few bucks, what's the big deal??, etc." Sometimes ppl just forget that their emotions toward animals have completely gone cold, somehow....

You really should give it sometimes, then get new chicks and I am sure you are learning to be extremely cautious with predators, such as rat, and I didn't think rats would do this to chicks. But then, they are rats and their nature is out to destroy.... Personally, if you do get new chicks, I highly recommend that you have them in a coop inside your home for at least a month or two. I do not think that would hurt anything. With new chicks, Anything and Any animal will be tempted to get to them, don't you think?

Again, I'm truly sorry for your loss!

 

[NEPACrazyFarm]

aww sorry to hear that we just lost our first chic and I'm not entirely sure what happened. I neverrrr thought about rats.

 

[DamselinFlannel]

Wow, I had no idea rats could kill chickens! Yikes!! So sorry for your loss.

 

[kidcody]

so sad!

 

[OneLostHen]

aww sorry to hear that we just lost our first chic and I'm not entirely sure what happened. I neverrrr thought about rats.

I, too would have never guessed rats could do this kind of damage.. But now this means WAR!!!

I am utterly sorry for your loss - I truly am. I also have the same sentiments toward chickens - I lost one myself, due to a dog attack and everyone thought I was one of the most insane ppl that they've ever met when they learned I lost a chicken. The general comment is "can't you just simply get another one? ...if it is only a few bucks, what's the big deal??, etc." Sometimes ppl just forget that their emotions toward animals have completely gone cold, somehow....

You really should give it sometimes, then get new chicks and I am sure you are learning to be extremely cautious with predators, such as rat, and I didn't think rats would do this to chicks. But then, they are rats and their nature is out to destroy.... Personally, if you do get new chicks, I highly recommend that you have them in a coop inside your home for at least a month or two. I do not think that would hurt anything. With new chicks, Anything and Any animal will be tempted to get to them, don't you think?

Again, I'm truly sorry for your loss!

Thank you for your condolences.
Yes, most people don't understand why Im upset.. They cant picture an innocent baby, sleeping at night, then suddenly snatched and mauled.. But I guess it is nature.. Just makes me sick to think I could have and should have set up a better structure for night time...

I am going to make drastic improvements this weekend, and set up traps for the rodents.. My boyfriend promised that we will get revenge on 'em.. I wont give up on the thought of getting more chicks, but I cant just replace these in a days time.

I wouldn't have thought it was a rat if I hadnt seen them the night before.. But given the small, tight area where i found the birds, there aren't many other predators that could fit, yet do that kind of damage.. Just blows my mind that they would want both.. As if the feed sitting out wasn't there at all. Such a tough lesson indeed.

I feel like Im out witted and overwhelmed by trying to get the "perfect" set up.. One that's functional, simple, not budget blowing, cuts down on flies and rats, doesn't attract ants, doesn't stink, cleans up well, looks nice, is predator proof... UGH!! There is just so much and I feel like I've already failed before I've begun.. The fact of the matter is we do have flies, and ants, and obviously some vicious rats... My bigger chickens would rather roost on the fenceline bordering them and the dog than coop up in the evenings, wich makes me a nervous wreck considering if he jumps up, he could have them for dinner.. But Im hopeful that I will get there in time.. **Sorry for ranting, just upset still**