Something is killing my chicks... Thoughts... Advice...

[texascowboy1979]

Ur BTW... Im from La Feria Texas... Thats far far far south texas... near the southmost TIP...

HOWDY!

 

[Soccer Mom]

You're way far south of me. I'm up in the Hill Country.

You might try setting up on that snake around dawn. That's how we caught and killed the one getting our ducklings. My husband measured it at five feet six inches and it was taking 3 or 4 ducklings at a time.

 

[WalkingWolf]

I would pull up any rat poison, even if the chicks can't get to it, the adult fowl will eat the dead rats.

 

[texascowboy1979]

Humm.. Morning... what time would you suggest? of course the snake wont come back if I dont have any chicks...so I will have to go buy 2 chicks and wait it out... hopefully I can get the snake / rat / possium before it gets the chicks..

 

[texascowboy1979]

Quote:
So how do I get rid of the rats then? P.s. the nearest rat poison is about 10 feet from the closest bird.

 

[Soccer Mom]

Right when the day starts to warm up, how ever early that is for you. At this time of year, that could be shortly after dawn!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I wouldn't be putting more chicks in there until you find out what's gotten them all.

Put some eggs instead.

Switch out all chicken wire for hardware cloth.

 

[damarisgw]

possums?

 

[anngili]

I also tend to think it's a snake over a possum; the possum holes I've seen usually have a mound of trailings, though not as big as those made by armadillos.
And FYI, those rat snakes can move FAST so be ready!

Ann

 

[Southerngirl]

I agree with the above poster on just setting eggs inside the pen. Snakes love them and baby chicks. I would put 6-a dozen in there. If you find them gone its a snake. Mice and rats will leave shell behind, with a snake they swallow the whole thing. I lost a few to snakes also and my first clue was I started to not get any eggs in the morning as usual, then I started missing a couple of chicks every few days. I just happened to walk in and catch one of them about 1000 am laying in a corner in my coop, swallowing one of my silkies; he was so big I thought it was a python at first. Needless to say the enraged chicken farmer came out in me and he died by the shovel. I personally have killed 3 over 5ft and over 5 1/2 feet this year. Another trick is to glue a fish hook on the eggs and tie fishing twine to the cage so you can catch him. There must be NO OTHER ANIMALS in the pen though. This is an old timer trick that does work. You must use superglue to attach the hook to the egg. They swallow the egg and hook and cant get away!