What Predator is doing this? GRAPHIC PICs of bird plus pen.

[MissD'uccle]

We had a problem with a mink a couple years ago and it looked like my birds were dissected. Another sign was the head was removed and he killed all the birds he could get to in one night. Most of them were't even eaten! So i'd say this isn't a mink. However i do agree with sit and wait or put a trap out. It will keep coming back. Good luck!

 

[yotetrapper]

I'm leaning towards other chickens too. Watch them close, several times a day if possible. Go right into the coop and look at each chick. If it IS other chickens, you should be able to tell. You'll notice one chick trying to hide, or notice small bloody area around vent. They dont do that in a minute, its a slow thing, but usually within several hours they can have them seriously wounded.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Quote:
Interesting tip!

 

[underground chickenman]

I don't know about the other chicks. I've seen some pretty good picking by other chickens, but that's pretty intense. I've never seen them suck the entrails right out of the body cavity. Maybe it started with that, but if so, I think a rat finished it off. I would look for tracks, set up a camera or stand guard.

UGCM

 

[fancbrd4me02]

When is this happening? If at night, most likely a predator. If it is a predator, and you see no signs of digging, it must be something small enough to get through the large wires. I suggest that your first line of defense should be to put smaller wire over the large rectangular wire. Hardware cloth is best, but even chicken wire over the larger wire would be a major improvement. If the injuries occur during the day, it could be picking, although that seems pretty severe. If it is daytime when this is happening, you need to start spying on your chicks from a distance so you can find out what they do when you are not around. If it is the chiks, you will start having to troubleshoot why it is happening (Nutrition, crowding, bad habit, food competition, etc)

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I'm gonna have to agree with those that said rats.

 

[Neilette]

Please don't use poison. That goes straight into the ecosystem. My dogs might be the next ones to eat the carcass of the thing you poisoned.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Quote:
It happens either overnight or at dawn. I'm out there several times a day and I started handling them more to examine for blood or injuries (which I noticed none). I notice the dead bird when I bring out the AM feeding generally around 10AM but I will start checking them earlier and later at night. Their food/water has never run out and I did not have the problem with the last batch of black australorp (just a few weeks ago). I am hesitant to think that the chicks are doing it but guess I wouldn't rule it out. We are moving the pen tomorrow and putting smaller chicken wire around all areas. We are moving it onto a concrete foundation so nothing can dig under.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

Quote:
I say poison but we use organic material from the Rhododendrons. But dogs can eat it and die, too. They could eat it off the bush, too.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I would say it's a predator. It could be a rat, weasel or some other small thing. It is not a snake. The best thing you can do is wrap the pen in wire with smaller holes. Remember, a rat can get it's body into any space that it's head fits through. Poison is really the second thing you would do after moving the pen onto a slab and putting more wire on the pen.