So frustrated

[aart]

Squirrels don't dig tunnels 10 yards long.

 

[jbahros]

Squirrels don't dig tunnels 10 yards long.

So what animal do you suspect?

 

[aart]

Really hard to say without some pics and more info.
2 holes 10 yards apart.....are they connected?
Is 1 hole inside the chicken pen?
Did you try the garden hose...either as a probe or turn it on full blast and see where the water goes?

 

[jbahros]

There were several holes ( diameter 3-4 inches) at the edge of the outside perimeter extending to the inner border so yes inside the pen area and another hole about 10 feet away. I could put a stick in it but it only went down 4 inches so there must have been a turn. The digging happened between 8:30 and 10 am. I am now going to take the coop out of the pen and the wooden base out, dig out a few inches of soil and then line the entire pen with HC 19 gauge 1/2 " and connect to walls so the pen is safe from predators.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My guess is some sort of burrowing critter, mole, vole, gopher, something like that. They're not really harmful themselves but other animals can use the burrows as access in.

Unfortunately an apron really does nothing against burrowing specialists since they can make such long tunnels. Burying the apron straight down or down at an angle could help, or yes, flooring with wire. Though if you have an infestation of whatever's doing it, even putting hardware cloth on floor can be an issue if they tunnel so much that it starts collapsing sections of the floor.

 

[jbahros]

I do now hardware cloth apron now going straight down 9 inches along the inside perimeter and they still were able to tunnel in. Im worried it might be a weasel.

 

[aart]

I could put a stick in it but it only went down 4 inches so there must have been a turn.

Garden hose, turned on full blast.

 

[jbahros]

Here are photos from this morning. My chicks are 4 1/2 wks now, still in brooder in basement but after 2 consecutive day outings this is what I find. This occurred even after digging trench in inside perimeter to lay HC apron vertically 9 inches. Now I think I need to take everything out and dig a few inches along floor to lay HC along floor and attach to walls. Im so frustrated since the trenching and laying down vertical hardware cloth was a half a days work. Ugh. Any suggestions? Any ideas on what animal did this. I noticed that they left the chicken feed alone.

 

[aart]

Any ideas on what animal did this.

Mole? Rat?

 

[keesmom]

Chipmunk? We're inundated with them.