? Something got our Girls?

[R&RCoop]

So We lost 2 of our girls this week

I went out to feed Wednesday morning and 2 of our babies were dead on the coop floor with there heads missing. I was so shocked. It Did not look like there was much of a struggle, hardly any blood. What kind of animal would do this? We bought a animal trap and have been setting it outside the coop every night since, but nothing so far. I just fear for the rest of my girls. I just pray that we catch what ever did this, before it gets any more of our sweet chickens.

 

[The Sheriff]

R&RCoop :

So We lost 2 of our girls this week

I went out to feed Wednesday morning and 2 of our babies were dead on the coop floor with there heads missing. I was so shocked. It Did not look like there was much of a struggle, hardly any blood. What kind of animal would do this? We bought a animal trap and have been setting it outside the coop every night since, but nothing so far. I just fear for the rest of my girls. I just pray that we catch what ever did this, before it gets any more of our sweet chickens.

Have you scoured every inch of the coop to look for places where a predator could get in? Oh, and I am sorry for your loss. Didn't mean to sound short with you but I am worried since it is nightime again.​

 

[ranchhand]

What's the coop like? Any small area where a predator can get in, or even just reach in to grab a sleeping chicken? Reinforcing the coop and trapping both will help.

I'm sorry this happened to you, it's a horrible experience.

and good luck building Ft. Knox.

 

[Suechick]

So sorry this happened to you.
It sounds like a racoon, skunk, or a possum.
They can get through even 1 or 2 inch openings. I cover all my vents with hardware cloth to keep my girls safe.
Hope you catch it and don't lose any more.

 

[rufus]

Owl.

Rufus

 

[smarsh]

mink or weasel. they can enter through very small holes (weasel can go through something nearly as small as a mouse) and that is what they do; kill more than they need and eat the head, drink the blood. little vampires.

 

[LynneP]

I think smarsh is right. You need to clean down the floor and examine every inch of your coop, including along the roof line. Anything bigger than 1/2" will admit a small mink or weasel. Check where electrical cords go through the wall, you have to re-seal after getting a plug through. They are smart, traps have to free of human scent and the best way to get rid of them ( there could be more than one) is to exclude them. It many also mean treating your run the same way- in winter a member of the weasel family will strike during the day and may not show much fear of you. There are common here and we can't legally kill them because we are in a protection zone for pine marten and most fur-bearing mammals. We had to build like Fort Knox...I'm so sorry. Get on this please, or the flock will be gone.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Here I go again.... I sound like a commercial! NITE GUARD!!! They really work!!!

 

[R&RCoop]

Thanks for all the reply's. Our coop is a old dog kennel & Run. Its made out of shed material. Every sturdy, but there is spaces where the sheet medal meets the concrete flooring, Like 1 to 2 inch gaps. Guess we need to find a way to seal them. From everyone's response sounds like a weasel or coon. Do weasels live in TX.? Just never heard anyone say they have seen one down here.Thanks again everyone for your input.

 

[BellLisamo]

skunks kept doing that to my young young chickens