Something ate my girls?

[craftyredhead]

My husband and I are really new to owning chickens, and last night something got 3 of my 7. We keep them in a sectioned part of our workshop, so there's a concrete slab and outside walls (of course we laid a thick layer of hay for them), so I know nothing burrowed in. We do have one outer wall that is 3x3 metal squares, so we ran 1" hex along the bottom in 2 rows, so it goes up to about 5 feet or so off the ground. I apparently underestimated what could get in there at night. One of the chickens was completely gone, just a small pile of feathers, one was torn into many pieces, but kind of stacked back together, and the third I couldn't find a cause of death, maybe it got scared to death? I've been reading online all morning, and I have a feeling it's a weasel, although I haven't seen any out here. Does anyone know if they're in my area? I live in Bonham, Tx, north of the Dallas area near the Oklahoma border. I still have 4 girls left, so I know I need to come up with a solution before dark tonight. I'm thinking of getting some 1/2" fencing and running it in place of my hex, but I'm not sure how high to go? Since it's my workshop, it's 9 or 10 feet tall, so do I need to run the 1/2" all the way to the top? Sorry so many questions, I really want to make sure this doesn't happen again!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have read that only 1/2 inch hardware cloth will keep out rats and weasels, which kill chickens. Sorry I don't know what killed your chickens and I am so sorry for your losses!

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry for your loss, and for those poor birds. Most of us have learned the hard way about predators; it's awful. Hardware cloth, 1/2 inch openings, WELL SECURED to good framing, including the top. Must have a secure roof of some sort. Also, set live traps in the building and shoot the invader! It will be back! Mary

 

[gander007]

Not a fun sight to witness, so sorry for the losses ...


Have you looked all around your shed as the smallest of holes is a entrance and I run 1/2 inch wire all along the bottom of run and coop .......

 

[LPeaslee]

Any tracks in or around the aera? If you find any, take a picture and post them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That doesn’t sound like a weasel. A weasel will normally kill a few birds, but usually only eat the head unless there is only one victim. They do not consume the entire body or carry one away.

From what you describe, I suspect a raccoon. They will kill more than one chicken in an attack, the breast, crop, and often intestines are eaten. If it had babies in a den it could take one back to feed them. A raccoon would have no trouble climbing 5’ high and getting through those 3” square holes.

Next on my list but still pretty high is a bobcat. They normally attack the head first, though they can eat the breast and on down. They can carry off a carcass and will normally try to hide or bury the remains. That may be what you are seeing when you say it reassembled it.

It’s always hard to be sure though. Not all predators read the book so they don’t all act like they are supposed to, but they do have tendencies. To protect against whatever it is, it really helps to know what it is. How can you bait a trap if you don’t know what you are trying to catch? How good a barrier do you need to build? If it is a raccoon, 2”x4” welded wire will keep it out, but a weasel requires a lot more expensive wire.

Tracks are distinctive. Looking for them is a great idea. Also, poop can be distinctive. If the predator was around that long, it may have left some. Also, look on the carcasses. Can you see any claw or talon cuts? An owl or a bobcat would probably leave some marks. In case it returns, which it probably will, if not tonight after it finishes the one it took away, you might clear some ground and rake the dirt to try to get tracks. Sprinkling some flour can help get good prints too.

Not knowing what it is, it’s hard to say what size wire you should get, but whatever you get, cover that entire 3”x3” side. You’d be amazed how well raccoons, foxes, bobcats, and many other predators can climb. And look at corners and edges to make sure there are no large openings there.

I feel for you. It is hard to lose them like this. Good luck!