Something stole 11 of our chicks. Any ideas of what it could be?

[aart]

Photo of a "modified" rat trap.Perfect for a weasel trap box.

How did you attach the nails?

 

[Finnie]

Did you ever catch the culprit?

Same question from me! I just read through this whole thing I'm very curious as to see what the predator actually was?

The predator was a coon. It is in a previous post.

Not necessarily.

She caught that raccoon because she left the gate of the pen open and made it easy for any old creature to wander in. The real killer could have been something much smaller because it had to get through a small opening.

@All4Eggz , have you tried setting a smaller trap that could catch a rat or weasel, inside the pen with the door closed? (Same conditions as the nights with the losses?)

What about pointing the camera at the trap like you talked about?

How are your survivors doing?

 

[McChooky]

Photo of a "modified" rat trap.Perfect for a weasel trap box.

Easier to drive nails thru the wood so when the trap goes off the nails hold the rat or weasel. The one in the photo I found is made a little different but works the same way

 

[aart]

Easier to drive nails thru the wood so when the trap goes off the nails hold the rat or weasel. The one in the photo I found is made a little different but works the same way

So have you actually made and used one like that?

 

[McChooky]

So have you actually made and used one like that?

No I haven't made or used one as I don't have a rat problem but I've read they work good.Found this trap while searching for weasel traps.

 

[cmom]

Not necessarily.

She caught that raccoon because she left the gate of the pen open and made it easy for any old creature to wander in. The real killer could have been something much smaller because it had to get through a small opening.

@All4Eggz , have you tried setting a smaller trap that could catch a rat or weasel, inside the pen with the door closed? (Same conditions as the nights with the losses?)

What about pointing the camera at the trap like you talked about?

How are your survivors doing?

 

[cmom]

My suggestion would be to put up a camera if she hasn't already and see what might be lurking besides the coon. Coons can reach and get into some small places. There are plenty of videos on YouTube. One was posted on a thread on BYC. I was amazed.

 

[All4Eggz]

Possums can squeeze through very small spaces as well, especially juveniles. They will eat chickens. The smaller possums will eat chicks and smaller birds, a large possum will eat a full grown full size hen.
People will tell you they are only after the eggs, however, my girls scream for Mom (even in the middle of the night if something spooks them) and I have caught a possum red handed with one of my hens in his mouth. The hen ended up being okay, the possum did not fair so well.
Don't discount possums yet.

We actually caught a possum a couple nights ago. We also killed it, and buried it.

 

[All4Eggz]

UPDATE:

Sorry everyone for keeping you hanging, I was very busy these past few days.

We caught a racoon first, which we shot, and buried.
Then a couple nights ago, we caught a possum, which we shot, then buried.
My suspicion is still on a weasel, though.

To answer all comments about the trap size, the trap is quite small. The big racoon basically had its entire body throughout the whole cage. It couldn't turn around.
The cage is actually meant for smaller predators, like groundhogs.

Sadly, our cousin had to take back the cage a couple of days ago, because he had an issue with groundhogs in his garden. He caught 4 in one night!

When we get back the cage, we will keep trying.

Any idea of UNRESISTABLE bait for weasels/minks? My suspicion is still on them...

CAM UPDATE:

Nothing on the cams. We turn it on every night, and nothing after the racoon and possum.

 

[All4Eggz]

Thank you all for your patience and concern.

We just got a broody and are going to "breed" (not professionally, just for fun ) some more chickens very soon.

I'll keep y'all updated!