Something is getting into our coop and stealing chicks and eggs!

[Rustysflock]

What kind of floor do you have in your coop? Dirt? Wood? If it is dirt maybe dig down several inches and put a layer of hardware cloth in then replace the dirt? This should help to keep whatever it is that is digging in to the coop out.

The coop is wood but the run is chicken wire dug down deep into the ground. They seem to be digging into the dirt and under the fence. About 2-3 metres!

 

[Rustysflock]

Looks and sounds like rats.
You should be able to trap the rats, but there is more where they came from.
Do you move this coop?
Any solution i think of will make the coop stationary, or at least heavier and harder to move..
Realize that if a rat gets in so can a mouse,weasel, snake just to name the ones i can think of right now.
A weasel will kill every bird you have overnite just for fun.
You must fortify there coop at least to be preditor proof, chickens are defenseless at night.

The coop is stationary. We dug chicken wire deep around and stone around the fence. We built a 50 square meter run. We have spent a lot of time trying to make them safe and will do anythi g it takes. We realise they are defenceless which is why we are asking for advice. We have rat traps down but no luck.

 

[Molpet]

The coop is wood but the run is chicken wire dug down deep into the ground. They seem to be digging into the dirt and under the fence. About 2-3 metres!

a rat can go through any hole bigger than 1/2" .. chicken wire is usually 1 to 2'

 

[aart]

The coop is wood but the run is chicken wire dug down deep into the ground. They seem to be digging into the dirt and under the fence. About 2-3 metres!

I'll bet that hole does not go 2-3m deep, it got thru the buried chicken wire.
Stick something down the hole, see where it goes.

 

[Rustysflock]

a rat can go through any hole bigger than 1/2" .. chicken wire is usually 1 to 2'

This is why i’m confused there are burrow holes? Why not go through the wire?

 

[Rustysflock]

My daughter stuck her hand down it lol. Theres t

I'll bet that hole does not go 2-3m deep, it got thru the buried chicken wire.
Stick something down the hole, see where it goes.

Tunnels down there? They come up under the coop? So baffling

 

[PattyNH]

Sounds like weasel or mink. They are very tenacious and can quickly devastate a flock. We have had problems with weasels - fortunately they can't get into the coop but they did go after them when I chose not to put them in one night. I bought rat traps and a small Have A Heart trap but haven't been able to set them up correctly yet (long story lol). I read to use raw meat in the traps as that is what they are looking for. I have, however, been very vigilant about cooping the girls up EVERY night.

Good luck to your husband on the stake-out!! VERY interested to see what he finds out!

 

[rachelsflock]

Those are rat holes. You have rats. Pen your birds and start killing.

 

[rachelsflock]

I'm also in the middle of killing rats, but I'll probably be killing them off in mass numbers until the day we move.

We always put food away at night. Leave no leftovers out of any kind. Store feed in metal cans. Sweep and dispose of sweepings daily. Pen birds, use snap rat traps, electric traps, and just one bite poison where appropriate. You'll probably be better off than me, but I have to do all that and kill and kill and kill and kill in order to get eggs and keep ducklings and chicks (due to circumstances beyond my property lines). If you can make your coop impenetrable, do it.

 

[aart]

This is why i’m confused there are burrow holes? Why not go through the wire?

That a heck of good question....they certainly could fit thru this mesh: