Starting to really worry about the safety of my birds. :(

[Judy]

I love the flour idea.

Have you talked to your neighbors (the good ones)? A few more eyes checking out their windows might be helpful; neighborhood watch. Esp. if you are convinced it is human. Maybe the flour will give it away. Meanwhile, I hope you find a game camera you can borrow for a few days.

Let us know!

 

[Bluemoon420]

Quote:
Well, I wondered about that on the snake thing (since I have 3 snakes you'd think I might know that LOL) but it was strange. The mouse tracks went East to West. The straight line crossed it running North to South. No other marks at all.

And please do!!! I appreciate any help I can get on this!!!

Hmm, that wouldn't be a rat/mouse track then. I would do like they said, and use flour too. I would also put a padlock on, and a camera.
Whatever it is, isn't harming the chickens. I'm pretty sure a raccoon would.

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

I agree. A racoon would not go away empty handed/pawed. Nor would any other four legged predator unless interupted by a dog.

 

[emilyweck]

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read this thread earlier. I'm really curious what it could be since the raccoon would surely have killed the chickens. I have a strange hunch it is a human. Make sure you keep us updated. I search for this thread often to see what's happening. Good luck tonight!

 

[luvmychicknkids]

The only thing I could think of if it WAS a furry predator was that it had just managed to get the cage open when I woke up and the lights coming on scared it off. So far tonight the only thing around has been my neighbor's cat. He is ALWAYS there. I am watching though. The flour really is a good idea. If I decide to go to sleep I may just have to try that.

 

[basicliving]

Can you put an in expensive baby monitor in there until you figure all this out? Maybe the sound of someone/something trying to get into the coop will wake you?

 

[Mikhail]

Instead of flour, I'd use mud. I always look in the mud for tracks, just for fun. The tracks stay there until it rains or something steps on them. I don't think flour would be like that. the wind might blow the flour, which will blow the tracks or the person might see the flour since its white (even at night) and the flour would have to be thick to leave good tracks.

 

[LynneP]

It's sounding more and more like a human.
And taking all your eggs? That's just mean.

I suppose it's possible you have a hen brooding outdoors, but I wouldn't expect all your hens to lay out there. And unless there is a molt or a very clever skunk, I think you can assume you have a human raider. I like the flour idea, and you could also use crushed limestone, Stable Boy food-grade DE or any other stall preparation that would revel the answer. Good luck with this and please be careful.

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

I really think human too. Particularly with the past issues. Lights coming on wouldn't scare any of the racoons I know. Plus the eggs being gone seems odd too. With an animal, it wouldn't likely be a one night show. They come back over and over. Also, you would think there would be a mess of some kind. I can't remember when you said it happened, but there aren't many animals that would raid a coop in broad daylight either.

 

[Chicken Fruit]

Does your husband have a brother or a dad that could come stay awake and watch the yard for a night or two? I remember you mentioning that your husband is in turkey in the army.

I'd say it does sound suspiciously a lot like a neighbor, just trying to get you to not want the chickens, or get them to leave some how. Or it might just be a big racoon, theyre very nibble creatures when it comes to getting at a meal...

I wouldnt want to be home alone at night with kids staring out the back windows in the dark. Althought I would if I had to I guess.

invest in some nice coffee and a good book