Rats?

[palmerchick]

Yesterday, I found a dead chicken in my coop without its head. My chickens are free rangers and go into coop on their own at night, but I leave their small coop door open, as I haven't had a problem for a very long time with predators, thanks to our dogs. Last night decided I better start shutting the door, as I assumed a raccoon must have entered the coop and just couldn't get her pulled all the way out. This morning, went in and I had a chicken basically gutted. This one was separated due to an injured foot. I'm beginning to think its rats because after investigating my coop I found a couple hidden holes down in the corner of my barn, under the lower nesting box.

My question is will rats kill chickens like this? I've done some reading on here and some say yes and some say no. I am headed to town today to get something to get rid of the rats and I am very tempted to move my chicken coop. Glad my husband didn't get around to staking it down.

Thanks for any advice!
Ronda

 

[rainbowhatchery]

I dont see any reason to doubt its the rats. If you know they are there and found a killed bird with no signs of anything else I think the jury will convict lol. Rats are known to kill to eat so I see now reason a big enough one wouldnt go after a chicken. Weasel and things like that do and they are about the same size.