Something killed my silkie

[Kessel23]

Shut them in the coop at night. That was most likely an opossum, all mustelids cache their food and instinctively go for the head to kill their prey, in other words, it was not a weasel. Raccoons like to drag the kill out into the run and they will often eat the crop, neck, and head of a chicken first. Opossums will tear into the rear and underside of their prey and eat the hind quarters first. If you caught one opossum in the run earlier then that means they are definitely around and can definitely get into the run and into the coop. 2x3 wire will keep coons and adult opossums out but it won't stop a coon from reaching through and grabbing a chicken with it's hand and it won't stop a large opossum from sticking his head through and biting onto a chicken, it also won't stop a weasel or mink from squeezing through and it won't keep out young opossums either. Go and walk around the run, inspect the bottom for any holes, pull on the wire a bit, make sure it is strongly attached to the posts, inspect the top too. Speaking of the top, what do you use to cover your run? Safest option for fencing is hardware cloth, chicken wire is too weak, a coyote will shred it and even a large coon can break through and 2x3 wire has holes that are big enough to let small predators in.

 

[Babybird60]

If you can fit a chicken egg through any hole in the fence (anywhere, high or low) a weasel will get through.

Thanks so much.... we have had our chickens for 4 yrs now with really no issues, but we recently adopted the 2 silkies who needed a home. Im so sad... they were like peas and carrots... always together. Thanks for all the info