Tiny predators

[diamondhill]

We have what we thought was a VERY secure room in our barn, but SOMEthing got in and gorged on three of our young hens. We had this issue a couple of years ago and vowed never to try chickens again. But this year, we THOUROUGHLY secured the room, from ceiling to floorboards. There is no crack or hole larger than one inch. Yet, somehow, something got in during the night and killed three young hens - they remained in the room, intact, but were essentially gutted. Four others remained unharmed. What could it be? A weasel? Rat? Can they really squeeze through a crack THAT small??? We live in southern Maine. We can't figure out what got in??? Any ideas? We love chickens, but have sacrificed far too many for the local wildlife scene. We don't want to give up, but...

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Not even a rat or weasel could fit thru a one inch hole. You probably need to take a better look at how secure it really is.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

What kind of door is on there and does it have something to lock it shut? Any windows?

 

[real_redhead]

Read up on weasels, they can get thru very small holes even an inch in diameter. Weasels feed on the warm blood from chickens they generally do not eat the chickens, bite the heads and necks.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Read up on weasels, they can get thru very small holes even an inch in diameter. Weasels feed on the warm blood from chickens they generally do not eat the chickens, bite the heads and necks.

Give me a break. A 1 inch diameter hole is slightly bigger than a quarter. So if it was a weasel it went thru that 1 inch hole and ate the guts from three chickens and then went back out that 1" hole? .I don't think so

 

[Zootopia]

Get a game camera, set it up at floor level in a corner opposite where the chickens roost. We had a problem with a predator had guard dogs sleeping all around the hen house, but we live in West Texas so the top of the door was open for ventilation. Turner out to be a very brave owl.
I'd bet you have a weasel also, given your region and the known vermin in your area. We had them in Ohio too, they are tiny and vicious.
Good luck

 

[ChickPrincess]

Give me a break. A 1 inch diameter hole is slightly bigger than a quarter. So if it was a weasel it went thru that 1 inch hole and ate the guts from three chickens and then went back out that 1" hole? .I don't think so

I just did my own research. Several web sites stated that a weasel can fit through a 1/2 inch hole... the size of a dime. If a mouse can fit through, good chance a weasel can fit through.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

I just did my own research. Several web sites stated that a weasel can fit through a 1/2 inch hole... the size of a dime. If a mouse can fit through, good chance a weasel can fit through.

I would love for you to post the link to it. I can't put my pinky finger thru a 1/2" diameter hole.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/...Weasel&curGroupID=5&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=1

 

[ChickPrincess]

The one I found re: the 1/2" must've been a forum, but several sites said 1/2" x 1 1/2" holes they were able to get through.
I did find ehow.com that says they can fit through the size of a quarter.
icwdm.org (internet center for wildlife damage management) said to use 1" hardware cloth.
I had originally done a google search for "how big a hole can a weasel fit through".