Unlock the mystery

[RaineyMiniRanch]

Quail Coop mystery. Help me figure out a mystery. We had two button quail in here. Constructed of pallets, wire bottom, hardwire cloth on complete exterior of unit. No gaps or holes. Door hinges off, but its also heavy...too heavy for a raccoon to lift. The quail have been fine out here for months. Last week, they disappeared. No feathers. No bones. No signs of struggle. No birds! Food and water untouched. The lid wasn't ajar. Nothing.

Below is the photo of the coop before all the hardware cloth was put up.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you post a pic of the set up?

I suspect human.

 

[RaineyMiniRanch]

Can you post a pic of the set up?

I suspect human.

Just added a photo to the original post too. This was before the hardware cloth was stapled on.

 

[JanetS]

When did they disappear? Day or night? Raccoons can be very sneaky.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am curious.. Were the hinges off before they vanished or was the door off the hinges AFTER they vanished.

I am thinking if it was before it could have been coon. Still leaning toward human or that if the door was off its hinges already they just wondered off.

 

[RaineyMiniRanch]

Everything was as we left it. Not a single hinge disturbed. What human wants two tiny button quail?

 

[RaineyMiniRanch]

When did they disappear? Day or night? Raccoons can be very sneaky.

We feed once a day, so unsure whether day or night. Just know they were there one morning and not the next.

 

[ccrow]

Everything was as we left it. Not a single hinge disturbed. What human wants two tiny button quail?

Well, YOU wanted them

Can you post a pic of the set up?

I suspect human.

That was my first thought also... if there's no sign of them, the pen isn't damaged, and there's no way for an animal to open it, then what else is there?