What killed my chick???

[pmpkinchick]

Last night we lost a 6 wk old chick. They were all locked in but something grabbed one and pulled it through the wire. The wire is about 1 1/2 inch square. All we found was blood,feathers,and a bone. What could do this?? We are going to reinforce with hardwire cloth today. The thing is we didn't hear a thing. Had windows open (in house,not coop) and we usually hear the chickens if there is a predator. I'm soooo frustrated and feel stupid for not thinking something could grab a chick like that.

 

[DelcoChix]

Not sure where you live but my first inclination would be masked marauder--raccoons have their tiny little hands and are pretty smart, have no qualms about pulling a bird through a small area such as wire fencing given the chance. We lost a broody Silkie who was in the enclosed nest box in the smaller coop--didn't realize that the wood in the box had separated/warped about 1-1 1/2 inches apart (gap covered by straw)...until we found she had been pulled through the tiny gap. Awful. Silkies aren't large but I would never have thought that was possible.
Good idea to use the hardware cloth ASAP-they will return I'm sure!

 

[pmpkinchick]

Racoon is my first thought also. Its just weird that we didn't hear a thing. Usually they make quite a ruckus, especially the older chickens. Guess we will be setting traps today, so much for hubby enjoying a relaxing fathers day!!!

 

[KristineY]

My guess is a raccoon since it had to grab and pull. A fox would take it back to the nest and not leave any trace like you found. Can you get a trail camera set up to monitor at night?

 

[iwiw60]

Racoon is my first thought also. Its just weird that we didn't hear a thing. Usually they make quite a ruckus, especially the older chickens. Guess we will be setting traps today, so much for hubby enjoying a relaxing fathers day!!!

Yes, I agree....it was a raccoon. What type wire are you using? I can't tell from the pic you posted. Since you now know you have predators (and they WILL be back now that they know where 'dinner' is) you should be using 1/2" hardware cloth. Using plain old chicken wire won't keep predators out at all...they'll rip it apart like it was butter.

Sorry for your loss...wishing you well.

 

[pmpkinchick]

Yes, I agree....it was a raccoon. What type wire are you using? I can't tell from the pic you posted. Since you now know you have predators (and they WILL be back now that they know where 'dinner' is) you should be using 1/2" hardware cloth. Using plain old chicken wire won't keep predators out at all...they'll rip it apart like it was butter.

Sorry for your loss...wishing you well.

Most is covered in hardware cloth but one area had wire about 1 1/2 in squares. That is where the chick was pulled through. We will be reinforcing with hardware cloth today and setting traps. I don't want to lose any more. I'm new to this and haven't even gotten any eggs yet and already lost one pullet.

 

[21216mc]

i feel really bad for you. i would think it would be a raccoon like the others.

 

[pmpkinchick]

Well, we worked hard today. We reinforced all areas with wood. Not taking a chance that the staples will hold, we added strips of wood to hold the hardware cloth. Also set up traps. They are have a heart but I don't think I will have much of a heart after the mess I found

 

[marutia]

Sorry to hear of your loss...I know how you feel as I just lost 4 yesterday...broad daylight....one flew high enough to escape and the 4th is gone...It is amazing how quickly they get into your heart ...good luck. I will be redoing alot too...

 

[iwiw60]

Well, we worked hard today. We reinforced all areas with wood. Not taking a chance that the staples will hold, we added strips of wood to hold the hardware cloth. Also set up traps. They are have a heart but I don't think I will have much of a heart after the mess I found

Using staples on hardware cloth...hmmmm. I'm using screws with washers on mine. Good on setting up the traps! Have a heart? For me it would be sitting outside at night with a .22 .. end of story and the scumbag.