Rats? Racoon? What killed my young chicken? (Pics may be considered graphic)

[McChooky]

Very helpful, thank you. I'm wondering about a weasel....

What worries me - an easy meal is enticing. The remaining 4 young chickens were afraid to go back into the coop, so I've closed them back into the crate (large dog crate covered in hardware cloth) inside the coop for nighttime. The other ground sleepers are 2 OEGB hens, but they can fly up if they want, 3 Wyandottes that are pretty large, and then the 4 Pekin ducks, also large.

As far as any bite marks, I saw none. The more eaten chicken didn't have any cuts, bites, tears, etc anywhere I could see, other than the completely missing parts. The other less eaten one, when I looked more closely, the neck bone was protruding, but the rest of the bird was undamaged. Feathers weren't even missing or roughed up.

The other thing I don't want to discount is could one of my roosters or other chickens have done this? One of them does get after the babies some. But other than pulling some fluff off their backs, I've never seen any if the bigger/older birds mess with the youngers.

I'll look into getting a trap. Game camera caught nothing last night. I put up a motion light above the coop entrance, but I can't count on that deterring everything. I repaired the hardware cloth. Opening could not have been bigger than a few inches. The section of damaged wire was maybe 3 inches high by 6 inches long, but the actual gap wasn't that big. The damaged piece got shifted, so maybe 3 - 4 inches at the biggest.

We had possums and coons steal cat food for years until I boxed my patio in and covered it with hardware cloth. Now the cat foods inside and they can't steal anymore. The light shutting on and off frightens predators off until they get used to it.Keep the light off if you want to trap it

 

[McChooky]

Haha, brutal as in “ruthless” which many would consider a multi-killer to be (although it’s just in their nature.) Possums really don’t ever go after more than one at a time though, which is why I believe this better fits the MO of a weasel.

I like possums because they eat rats and snakes and aren't brutal lol
But they're opportunistic predators and your chicks were easy prey sorry.A weasel wouldn't eat ones wing.

 

[CHlCKEN]

I like possums because they eat rats and snakes and aren't brutal lol
But they're opportunistic predators and your chicks were easy prey sorry.A weasel wouldn't eat ones wing.

Weasels do usually go for head only but I’ve had em take legs and wing before which is why I know it is possible. Possums really are just “if it’s easy I’m taking it” animals though.

 

[McChooky]

Weasels do usually go for head only but I’ve had em take legs and wing before which is why I know it is possible. Possums really are just “if it’s easy I’m taking it” animals though.

Hopefully you'll trap it soon and you won't lose anymore

 

[McChooky]

Hopefully you'll trap it soon and you won't lose anymore

OOOOppps I meant to reply to the op.

 

[McChooky]

I've never had rats so I don't know if they'll eat the heads off but Weasels move the bodies in a line and pile them up (display them) Never heard of one leaving one where it was killed either.We have lots of weasels because they love to be near water. Theres a stocked pond less than 1/2 mile from here and their territory is much farther

 

[CHlCKEN]

I've never had rats so I don't know if they'll eat the heads off but Weasels move the bodies in a line and pile them up (display them) Never heard of one leaving one where it was killed either.We have lots of weasels because they love to be near water. Theres a stocked pond less than 1/2 mile from here and their territory is much farther

I was thinking the weasel wasn’t able to get them through the hole and that’s why he left them.

 

[McChooky]

I was thinking the weasel wasn’t able to get them through the hole and that’s why he left them.

The coop I built has served me well .Nothings ever got inside but if one did it'd probably be a weasel.They're a terror in a chicken coop

 

[HeidiGretchen]

CHICKEN and McChooky,

Thank you both for all of this info. I do have another question...

I saw where y'all said weasels will line up their kills, and possums carry them off... the chicks that were killed were laying exactly where they sleep. They didn't appear to have been moved at all. Which, in and of itself seems odd that something would be able to kill not just 1 but 2 chickens where they slept. Maybe it dragged them back into those spots. When I introduce new chicks to my flock, I put the big dog crate in the back corner of the coop. I leave enough space along the side and back for the little ones to run into in case the big ones pick on them. The littles had been in the coop long enough that I wasn't making them sleep in the crate. They could have, the crate was open, but they piled up in those small spaces between the crate and the walls. The 2 who were eaten were along the back wall, still behind the crate, about a foot apart. So whatever it was could fit back there, too.

Really hoping I can get something trapped, and in the meantime I just keep looking for anything else I missed sealing.

 

[McChooky]

I

CHICKEN and McChooky,

Thank you both for all of this info. I do have another question...

I saw where y'all said weasels will line up their kills, and possums carry them off... the chicks that were killed were laying exactly where they sleep. They didn't appear to have been moved at all. Which, in and of itself seems odd that something would be able to kill not just 1 but 2 chickens where they slept. Maybe it dragged them back into those spots. When I introduce new chicks to my flock, I put the big dog crate in the back corner of the coop. I leave enough space along the side and back for the little ones to run into in case the big ones pick on them. The littles had been in the coop long enough that I wasn't making them sleep in the crate. They could have, the crate was open, but they piled up in those small spaces between the crate and the walls. The 2 who were eaten were along the back wall, still behind the crate, about a foot apart. So whatever it was could fit back there, too.operly

Really hoping I can get something trapped, annd coatd in the meantime I just keep looking for anything else I missed sealing.

I had to replace a couple boards on my coop today because they were dry rotten.The wood was getting powdery soft along the bottom of my coop. Anything small could have chewed its way in easily there. Just make sure you patch any holes you find. Use 1/2" Hardware cloth if you can.An aprons important too! By the way this is a picture of a weasel box.Amazon and farm stores sell them! Good luck!