What Predator do you think did this??

[dani_chickenz]

Hey guys

I just recently went to check on my chickens and made quite a discovery.... my hen who had been nesting on her eggs (which were one week away from hatching) had all disapeared! She also was missing part of one toe and there was blood on the floor. She is ok. But I was wondering what did this. Whatever it was left the shells and was pretty messy about it. And has ate all the other eggs in my coop aswell . Do you guys have any idea of what might have done this??
Thanks

 

[remuda1]

From what I've read here, it sounds like a rat.

 

[bryan99705]

Would guess rat, skunk or possum. Sounds like time to break out the wire and upgrade your defences (might want to look at a live trap too)

 

[southerndesert]

Rats will steal eggs during the night from right under a hen....

 

[dani_chickenz]

Oh thank you guys

But would a rat bite my chicken? And it can't be a possum.... to far up north for that lol. So it sounds like a rat?

 

[dani_chickenz]

So you don't think it could even be a raccon??

 

[fishman65]

a racoon would have killed your hen. probably a rat. they can get through the smallest holes. they usually just go after the feed but they can kill chicks and eat eggs. If you don't have any chicks make a small wooden box with a lid that locks and put some one bite rat killer in it and cut a small hole in it. It will keep the chickens out and let the rat go in and eat the poison. If you have chicks don't do it they will go into it. you can try some small live traps also they work sometimes. good luck.

 

[Theapplechicks]

Quote:
how far north? we had possum in WI

That was gonna be my first guess. They like eggs!

 

[dani_chickenz]

thank you for the advice on what to do... I think I will get on that asap

 

[dani_chickenz]

Quote:
how far north? we had possum in WI

That was gonna be my first guess. They like eggs!

I'm from eastern Ontario, Canada... but I don't think we have any possums here lol