What predator / pest is this?

[Cami0488]

The chickens are okay. I locked them in their coop at night specifically for this reason. But, it's now 3/3 and they've been in here and I see the same digging spot. I think it's a rat. What do you think?

Of course an L shaped hardware cloth lining will be going in. But I'm curious to know what this was and if it was life threatening.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like burrowing activity of some type of mouse or vole.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Looks bigger to me. Whatever it is, its not the Easter bunny bearing eggs.

 

[Cami0488]

But this doesn't look like a coon to anyone?

 

[centrarchid]

I do not see actual imprints of a raccoon in the loose soil.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Correct me if I am wrong but is the dirt displaced to the side and out side?

 

[barred2rock]

Call me crazy, but I think your chickens are doing that from the inside.

 

[Cami0488]

Call me crazy, but I think your chickens are doing that from the inside.

Well considering they are locked tightly in their coop, it can't be them. Also since yesterday when I clogged up the dig spot, the digger did not return last night

 

[Cami0488]

Correct me if I am wrong but is the dirt displaced to the side and out side?

Yes. It seems whatever it is spent considerable time digging on the outside to get in. Then it took what I believe if all the spilled chicken feed and would run in and out of the coop. I wanted to set up a camera, but I'm still thinking it was a rat.

 

[centrarchid]

Rat very possible. More than one species to choose from.