Sneaky pest taking young chickens in morning after auto door opens.

[Doctorwho99]

Hi,
I've been losing young chicks (several months old) from inside the hen house. I finally figured out that it was happening from inside the hen house as I've lost most of the young ones that are just coming out of the nursery section. that haven't braved the outside yet and they've gone missing. the majority of the missing ones are young roosters, but it got two of my hens recently, one large and one small.
I have and auto door that opens in the morning. the area has many trees, and it doesn't open at the break of dawn usually.
I searched the perimeter fence and found a spot where they are being dragged under the fence. I wish I had a trail camera so I could see what it is.
I've dealt with Hawks and raccoons before. It was a surprise one day when I opened the door and saw a big hawk inside on the roost. The raccoons only bothered at night. This is daylight morning robbery. Does anyone have any idea? I can set out traps, but what bait? Tuna fish, cat food, Marshmallows? thanks for any thoughts.

 

[Penpal]

Until you find out what it is, I would leave the chickens in the coop so the door isn't open. Only let them out when you can be with them until you kill or capture the varmint.

Put the trap right where the hole in the fence is.

 

[Doctorwho99]

Until you find out what it is, I would leave the chickens in the coop so the door isn't open. Only let them out when you can be with them until you kill or capture the varmint.

Put the trap right where the hole in the fence is.

Thanks, I found a reasonably priced trail cam on Temu. Worth a shot. Good Idea to lock them in. I'll try closing the inner cage first so they can get some outside time still. it's caged all around so should be good. the sneak thief hasn't been climbing or digging to get them so it should be fine. and if I hear the baby monitor with chickens screaming I'll just have to run out.
I have to patch my large trap (Raccoon chewed it up) and put both large and small traps out with different bait outside the pen.