Should have listened to my gut instinct :(

[sheeshshe]

I had one chicken that I had to separate from the rest for a week or so, because she wasn't getting along with my new chicks and the other adults were doing fine. I was going to move her back in today. I just had a bad feeling about last night, but I left her out in the mini coop anyways. it isn't a safe coop, it can be dug under. Whatever it was, went through the side and ate her I feel really bad now. I should have listened to myself. MY kids are all upset, I'm upset, everyone is upset. all I can think of is a skunk because we have skunks. there are raccoons too, but they just eat the head right? Now I'm going tohave to be even more careful to make sure I'm out there at dusk to lock them in. I feel like the predators will be watching now

 

[ccrow]

Aw, I'm sorry....

 

[sheeshshe]

I just had that bad feeling about last night. and of course now, I can't shake it!!

Any idea what animal would fit in a 5ish inch square hole? maybe 6?

 

[dainerra]

Probably a coon. Skunks are more likely to be interested in eggs. A hole that large could have been anything. A 5inch hole is like a super highway kn the predator world.

 

[sheeshshe]

it was a 5 inch hole on the side between the fence. honestly I don't know how anything got in between there. but they're tricky. It was a hack job of a thing, I put a linoleum tile there over the hole. and it tore the hole.

would the raccoon eat up the hole body?

 

[dainerra]

racoons will eat the body. if they don't feel safe, they can also drag it away to a more secure area.

As I said, 5 inches is a HUGE hole when it comes to predators. Pretty much anything short of a coyote can squeeze through that with no effort.

 

[sheeshshe]

wow. ok! I will assume it is a raccoon.

Any idea how long they're going to scope out my property for? I"m afraid that they're going to come before dusk before I lock up my chickens to get a meal.!

 

[dainerra]

they USUALLY come after dark. It's easier for them to catch chickens after they've gone to roost so they will be happy to wait.
I'd clog up all the holes you can and make sure that there aren't any gaps in your coop.
Sometimes they will skip a couple days after a big meal. Other times they will come back the very next night. Sorry that I can't help more

Good luck!

 

[sheeshshe]

There aren't any holes, I tested the pop door with my strength to see if I could pry it open, and I can't. the main door I added an extra lock on the bottom as they could squeeze through there if they pried at it. Now I need to replace the chicken wire vents with hardware cloth as I am super paranoid. If they can rip through it, I am going to assume that they're going to give it a try, now that they know there is food.

one of my friends had raccoons come earlier and earlier each night. Their neighbor helped shoot them.