WHAT THE??..... something burrowing under my coop!!!!!

[midwestmilkmaiden]

I've been very lucky, since raising chickens 2 years ago ,with no pests!!!

But in the last week, I've noticed the dirt really raised in a mound like something is burrowing under my metal nesting boxes... and it keeps getting bigger...
I looked around the coop today and noticed a hole .. about 2-3 inches in diameter going into where this burrowing is coming from...

So,

...

Weasel, snake, ... I think it's too big for a mole...

and if it is a snake, what harm can they do?

.. do weasels burrow under the ground like that?

HELP, please... I've just had 3 baby chicks hatch and I don't want to see them harmed.. or all of my other chickens for that matter!

 

[Emzyyy]

I wouldn't know much about it, but someone else is sure to help you answer the prob.

Goodluck keep us posted.

 

[poultryhaven]

Its probably a rat! cause i have little holes going to and we found about 15 rats underneath a piece of fence. Check to see if any of the chickens feathers are chewed looking. Dont put baby chicks out there cause rats will eat them

 

[huntinwidow]

Probably not a snake, but depending on the variety they can be very harmful. Snakes will eat your eggs and even small chicks.

 

[mmwb]

Where are you at? I would guess maybe rat or skunk (their burrows are often smaller than you would think).

Could be ground squirrels or chipmunks, but the hole sounds a bit big. Pocket gophers make a decent sized hole, but would normally be out in the open like a meadow or pasture. I can't imagine them borrowing under a building.

 

[jhm47]

First of all, snakes don't dig holes. They don't have limbs to dig with, so they take over holes that have been dug by other animals. If it were a weasel, you would have no live birds by now. A rat will be the most likely candidate. They burrow under things, and they leave loose dirt near their burrow. They will also kill chicks. Get rid of them.

 

[Camelot Farms]

I agree. Rat! Yuck. We moved our portable coop a few weeks ago and one monster rat ran out. We havent seen any signs of him since. I hope it stays that way!

 

[tiffanyh]

I agree Rats.

I lost a chick to what I am pretty sure it rats. I get them occasionally, as soon as I see a sign, I take care of it.

My food is out of reach, I think they come around just for the cr@p and eggs.