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

[cmom]

CAM UPDATE:

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

I have some of my cameras mounted on pvc posts that I can move around. Some cameras are mounted where I leave them for different views around the coops. I put one in a pen when I was having an issue with an owl. I didn't have enough good netting to cover the end pens so I bought some poor stuff and the owl kept going through it. I moved the birds to another coop. I did catch the owl after I replaced the poor netting with some good netting when the owl tried again but got caught in the good netting. We managed to get it into a cage and a wildlife rescue came and got it.

 

[All4Eggz]

I have some of my cameras mounted on pvc posts that I can move around. Some cameras are mounted where I leave them for different views around the coops. I put one in a pen when I was having an issue with an owl. I didn't have enough good netting to cover the end pens so I bought some poor stuff and the owl kept going through it. I moved the birds to another coop. I did catch the owl after I replaced the poor netting with some good netting when the owl tried again but got caught in the good netting. We managed to get it into a cage and a wildlife rescue came and got it.

Cool!

 

[Marie2020]

I'm sorry you lost your chicks

This suspense is killing me. I really got interested in this thread.

 

[All4Eggz]

I'm sorry you lost your chicks

This suspense is killing me. I really got interested in this thread.

Thank you

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I have some of my cameras mounted on pvc posts that I can move around. Some cameras are mounted where I leave them for different views around the coops. I put one in a pen when I was having an issue with an owl. I didn't have enough good netting to cover the end pens so I bought some poor stuff and the owl kept going through it. I moved the birds to another coop. I did catch the owl after I replaced the poor netting with some good netting when the owl tried again but got caught in the good netting. We managed to get it into a cage and a wildlife rescue came and got it.

Is that the owl in the first picture? Whatever it is looks big.

 

[All4Eggz]

Is that the owl in the first picture? Whatever it is looks big.

Yup, it's an owl

 

[CluelessChickMom]

The only opening I see that could be the issue is about 1.5''-2''


I narrowed it down after some research, and decided it was some sort of weasel/mink.
We borrowed a trap and we will set it up tonight with canned cat food and fresh chicken thighs.
We also borrowed a trail cam so we can really see what it is if we don't end up trapping it.

Does that sound okay?

My first thought was a snake. I don't dare have any opening wider than 1/2" and usually 1" tall is ok. Snakes are prolific, sneaky, experienced predators in my area and the desert leaves them slim pickings so the chicks would be on their radar. 1.5" - 2" would be easy going for a snake, but I think it is also large enough for other varmints. So sorry to hear of these terrible incidents. Honestly, rodents, snakes, etc could easily dig under/into the coop. I am getting ready to purchase materials to build a small area for my chickies who are now only about 2 weeks old and I am already nervous about the many desert predators.

 

[CluelessChickMom]

I highly recommend covering everything with 1/2-in hardware cloth.
Any openings larger than that and those killers will be back...no doubt.

Yes, and hardware cloth alone is not strong enough to deter some predators. Definitely cover with hardware cloth but stronger wire underneath. I have a friend here where I live that had a bobcat literally punch it's paw through her rabbit cage to get the bunny. So sad. I love bunnies. I keep mine inside.

 

[Folly's place]

The lower 4' of our coop/ run walls are hardware cloth and 2"x 4" woven wire, stapled and then with boards screwed into the framing. We too worry about large dogs, and so far don't have bears. Occasional cougar sightings though...

Mary
And those staples are the fence staples, not the little ones!

 

[CluelessChickMom]

The lower 4' of our coop/ run walls are hardware cloth and 2"x 4" woven wire, stapled and then with boards screwed into the framing. We too worry about large dogs, and so far don't have bears. Occasional cougar sightings though...
View attachment 2713843

Mary
And those staples are the fence staples, not the little ones!

Awesome!! Thanks for the photo.