Strange poop in the nest boxes

[CuckooKlay]

I found this poop in one of our next boxes. I am pretty sure it is not one of our chickens. It might be hard to tell in the photo, but it is about 5 times the amount of a big chicken poop and it does not smell like chicken poop at all. I don't always close the door to our coop at night because we have never had an issue. One of our chickens was gone for over 24 hours and I am starting to think that she got spooked by whatever pooped in the coop. Any ideas about what animal it could be?

 

[Mmanist]

Do you have racoons or opossum around your area?

 

[CuckooKlay]

Do you have racoons or opossum around your area?

I have never seen any of those around here. I have seen rats and mice, but this is something much bigger I am guessing.

 

[cmom]

 

[cmom]

Can you put something next to it to get an idea of the actual size? If you have a camera, put it up. Also because nothing has happened, no issues in the past doesn't mean it won't or can't. Good luck...

 

[Wezdin]

Do you have any broodies by any chance?

 

[imnukensc]

I have never seen any of those around here. I have seen rats and mice, but this is something much bigger I am guessing.

Where is "here?" May help to identify the scat, but looks like it may be raccoon.

 

[CuckooKlay]

Can you put something next to it to get an idea of the actual size? If you have a camera, put it up. Also because nothing has happened, no issues in the past doesn't mean it won't or can't. Good luck...

Thanks for the images, those are very helpful. I already cleaned it out so I can't put anything next to it. It was a little bit smaller than a dollar bill.

Do you have any broodies by any chance?

I have one broody hen, but I just discovered that she made a nest in a tree. She's sitting on about a dozen eggs from a few different chickens. So she was never spooked and left, she's been up in the tree for 3 days.

Where is "here?" May help to identify the scat, but looks like it may be raccoon.

I'm in Northern Utah. and I was also thinking maybe raccoon after looking at the images from cmom. I did go running last night and saw a skunk, which I have never seen in this area, but it doesn't look like skunk scat.

 

[Wezdin]

Thanks for the images, those are very helpful. I already cleaned it out so I can't put anything next to it. It was a little bit smaller than a dollar bill.


I have one broody hen, but I just discovered that she made a nest in a tree. She's sitting on about a dozen eggs from a few different chickens. So she was never spooked and left, she's been up in the tree for 3 days.


I'm in Northern Utah. and I was also thinking maybe raccoon after looking at the images from cmom. I did go running last night and saw a skunk, which I have never seen in this area, but it doesn't look like skunk scat.

Broodies will give out a HUGE dump when they get of the nest, that's why i was asking.

 

[CuckooKlay]

Broodies will give out a HUGE dump when they get of the nest, that's why i was asking.

Good to know! Maybe it was her. This is my first year with chickens, so I am still learning a lot. Thanks for the help.