Something eats chicken feed and leaves wet lumps of it behind...

[Cinnaminute]

Hi, usually I pick up their feed at night, but I have had several times over the years where I've forgotten. Usually it goes untouched or it's just our giant water bugs that get into it during the summer. Twice in the past month I've left the dish out, once on my porch and the other time inside their run. Both times something was eating or gathering from the dish. I found moist clumps of the food in the dish and around the dish. We do have a ton of squirrels but we have three big oaks dropping acorns right now. We've also had a dove take interest in their run and it often hangs around the yard. We also have rats that come by from time to time, but don't typically stay thanks to the neighborhood cats. I've also seen an armadillo who started visiting last year, but he usually went for the eggs every once in a while, and the odd rat snake too (who I doubt wants any of the feed). Note that I've had chickens for almost 4 years and my forgetful self has yet to encounter this, haha.

My cameras are busted due to rain and age so I'm currently unable to see what's up. I know it's not much to go on, but I've included a picture. Any ideas?

 

[2ndTink]

I have never seen that before! Is there a water source nearby that it would be getting water from or would the moisture be coming from whatever is doing this?

 

[nuthatched]

Mice and rats urinate as they go, it could be causing clumps

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I second the rats. They leave a greasy trail wherever they go and if you’ve ever dug up a rat’s nest it looks just like that food—clumpy and moist. There are rat-proof feeders that might make things easier. I had to take my food in every single night because we had a horrid rat problem. @Al Gerhart is a good resource for this sort of thing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Are you seeing any droppings? Mice, rats, possum, skunk, and other critters often leave droppings which could be used to identify them. If it were mice or rats hanging around long enough to do that I'de expect to see droppings.

Can you spread a light coat of flour on the floor before dark to see if you can get any paw prints to use to identify them.

That takes a lot of moisture if it is happening overnight. You would not think rats would do that much unless it were a lot of them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Slugs? Do you see a shiny sheen on the floor anywhere?