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

[twoquinns]

So sorry to hear about your loss
It could definitely be a rat or weasel, but I‘m thinking it could be snakes.
They fit through any gap! Could you take a photo of the coop?
Then I could suggest what you could use to fix the gap, like another layer of mesh or some tape.

The photo below is an idea for a brooder box, simply a plastic box, with a rectangular hole cut on the lid, fixed with mesh put on top and woof nailed/screwed on top of the mesh to keep it supported.
If you make this for your chicks they will be a lot safer. You could also keep the brooder box (with your chicks inside it) on your porch so they are close by.

Snakes don’t leave body parts like legs. They swallow their prey whole.

 

[CallMeMrsCasey]

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?

Did you ever catch the culprit?

 

[MartaKuz]

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?

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?

 

[33ChickenLovers]

Snakes don’t leave body parts like legs. They swallow their prey whole.

Oh I forgot about that

 

[cmom]

To our new members. The predator was a coon. It is in a previous post. I mostly use a live trap because more people have moved into our area. I have caught a couple of cats and a vulture in a live trap among other predators. I let the predator take the bait for a few days then set the trap. We had processed some birds and a couple found their way to the bottom of our freezer so I used it as bait.

 

[cmom]

Thank you.

We humanely killed it this morning and buried it towards the woods.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

UPDATE:

We looked over the footage, and saw the racoon. No evidence of any weasel.

The camera was not pointed at the trap though, so we will fix it so we can see it better next time.

 

[McChooky]

Yup. I know. It's most likely a weasel because our cousins who own chickens in the same area as us have spotted some weasels

You need a "weasel" trap to catch a weasel.The holes are much to big in ordinary traps.Youtube has instructional videos on how to make weasel traps which basically is a wooden box with a rat trap inside.The reason I'm puzzled by by the death of the chicks is a broody hen with chicks is very protective yet she wasnt harmed. Weasels and minks don't just kill chicks they kill adult chickens,ducks and geese.Nothing will stop either one but 1/2" hardware cloth.They're hard to trap.

 

[McChooky]

UPDATE:

Last night, we caught... the wrong thing!

So we set up a trail cam next to the trap (but we have yet to look over the footage) and we left one of our gates open, kind of to lure in the culprit. We did shut the actual chicken coop though, but the culprit(s) had access to the run.

Next to the coop door (which was closed), we set up the cage (last night) with fresh chicken thighs and some canned cat food. This morning we come and see a racoon! It was huge, and it started hissing and jumping around the cage right away.

I am positive that it was not the one that was eating the chicks because it would definetely not fit through the holes. But when we left the gate open last night, that's how it got in.

We were expecting a weasel or something small - and we get a giant, fat (probably pregnant) racoon!
First thing tomorrow morning we are driving it out of town.


We will set up the trap again tomorrow night.

Any trap big enough to catch a coon is too big to catch a weasel.

 

[McChooky]

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

 

[McChooky]

Actual weasel trap box